# NTSB FTW97LA009: Young Cozy MK IV, N96PJ, Pueblo, CO, October 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 1996, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Pueblo, CO - Coordinates: 38.289878, -104.540374 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2899&lon=-104.5404&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20085/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA009 ## Probable cause the pilot/builder's improper design change which resulted in a loss of control following an intentional stall. A factor was an erroneous weight-and-balance calculation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - stall - intentional, pilot in command - aircraft weight and balance - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - maintenance,design change - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was practicing slow flight and stalls at 5,000 feet above ground level (10,000 feet msl). The only thing he could recall was that the 'main wing stalled' and that the canard was supposed to stall first. The nose pitched up, and he was unable to break the stall. After examining the wreckage, the airplane designer and an FAA airworthiness inspector concluded (1) the canard wing had too low an angle-of-incidence, (2) three of six vortilons had been removed from the main wing, (3) the pilot erroneously calculated the empty weight center of gravity (CG), making all other CG calculations incorrect, and (4) as fuel flowed towards the aft portion of the fuel tank during the stall, the CG moved 1.1 inches beyond the aft CG limit. The designer concluded that the aircraft had not been built according to the plans, but rather was 'converted' to an 'Aerocanard...an unauthorized, unapproved, rip-off design.' The pilot had about 400 hours of flight time in various Cozy aircraft, but he had accrued only about 17 hours in the Cozy MK IV. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 1996, approximately 1730 mountain daylight time, a Young Cozy MK IV, N96PJ, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain at Pueblo, Colorado. The airline transport-rated pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Pueblo, Colorado, on October 4, 1996, at 1704. According to the pilot, he was practicing slow flight and stalls at 10,000 feet msl (5,000 feet agl). The only thing he could recall was that the "main wing stalled" and that the canard is supposed to stall first. The nose pitched up and he was unable to break the stall. An examination of the wreckage at the pilot's Pueblo, Colorado, residence by an FAA airworthiness inspector, the airplane's designer, and an NTSB student intern on November 14, 1996, revealed the following: (1) Data supplied by the pilot on the elevator position he had to maintain in cruise flight indicates he used too low an angle of incidence on the canard wing. This would allow the airplane to attain too high an angle of attack. (2) Three of the 6 required vortilons (used to restrict spanwise air flow and prevent the main wing from stalling at high angles of attack) had been removed from the main wing. (3) Incorrect calculation of the airplane's empty weight center of gravity, resulting in the center of gravity being 0.1 inches beyond the aft limit. (4) Fuel flowing towards the aft portion of the fuel tanks during a climb to altitude and followed by an accelerated stall resulted in the center of gravity moving 1.1 inches beyond the aft limit. The designer concluded that the aircraft had not been built according to the plans, but rather was "converted" to an "Aerocanard...an unauthorized, unapproved, rip-off design." The aircraft was certificated in the experimental category. The pilot had about 400 hours of flight time various Cozy aircraft; however, he had accrued only about 17 hours of flight time in the Cozy MK IV. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96PJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96PJ), registered now, S/N 0203, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Young COZY MK IV - Registry model: [Young G/Young J COZY MKIV](https://openairdocs.org/model/young-g-young-j-cozy-mkiv) (registry code 05602LB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1G6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1g6d) (registry code 42256, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 203 - Airframe hours: 17 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Glenn P. Young - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1996, 5 hours before - Departed: PUB, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,350 total, 17 in this make and model, 7,980 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PUB, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19961004031119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961004031119A), Oct 4, 1996: Amtrcz COZY, Pueblo, CO, No damage ## Other investigations on N96PJ (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI03LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA209), Aug 22, 2003: Young Cozy MkIV (N96PJ), Quincy, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.