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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 26, 2003 · Rothrock Cozy Mark IV · N320FR

Erie, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 26, 2003
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Erie, CO
Aircraft
Rothrock Cozy Mark IV
Tail Number
N320FR
Operator
James R Willar
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN03LA037

While landing on runway 33, the airplane encountered a strong crosswind. The airplane departed the right side of the runway. The pilot said the wing caught and the airplane flipped over on its back. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Approximately 27 minutes prior to the accident, the reported winds at the Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, 197 degrees at 9 nautical miles from the accident site, was 280 degrees at 20 knots with gusts of 26 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing factors were the high crosswinds and the gusts.

Full Narrative

On January 26, 2003, at 1514 mountain standard time, a Rothrock Cozy Mark IV, N320FR, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when the pilot lost control during landing and the airplane nosed over at the Erie-Tri County Airport (48V), Erie, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local, personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported that during landing on runway 33 (4,700 feet by 60 feet, dry concrete) he encountered a strong crosswind. The airplane departed the right side of the runway. The pilot said the wing caught [on the ground] and the airplane flipped over on its back. The airplane was examined at 48V. The examination showed the airplane resting on its back near the east edge of runway 33. Both of the airplane's wings were broken aft and shattered. The propeller was also broken and shattered. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. At 1447, the reported winds at the Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, located 197 degrees at approximately 9 nautical miles from the accident site, was 280 degrees at 20 knots with gusts of 26 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:14 MST
Nearest AirportTri-County Airport (0nm SSE)
Runway33
Runway Length4700 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRothrock Cozy Mark IV
Tail NumberN320FR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJames R Willar
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-320-B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 20 kt, gusting 26 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 16 C
Altimeter30.12 inHg
Observation Time20:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data