Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Longmont, Colorado 80501
Saturday, January 16, 1999 13:15 MST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot said he made arrangements with a friend to observe the airplane in slow flight. At an altitude of 500 feet agl (above ground level), the pilot reduced power, added flaps, and approached his residence. The light east-northeast wind increased in velocity as he turned, causing the airplane to 'sink' and turn left. The pilot 'attempted to [turn] with no effect.' He said the airplane was equipped with a Wren STOL conversion, which made the controls 'very hard and slow. As [the airplane] was configured, it is very difficult whenever the wind is not on the nose.' The pilot said he had lost considerable altitude and could not maneuver because of his proximity to houses and other structures. He intentionally 'put [the airplane] on the ground.' A witness observed the airplane twice descend 'at a rapid rate of speed,' then make 'a steep ascent back into the air.' The airplane banked 'at a 65 degree angle' and seemed to 'pivot.' The witness 'did not see, at any time, the plane's wings dip as if it were fighting winds.' The pilot told a sheriff's deputy that 'a crosswind pushed him to the ground.'
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's poor judgment by intentionally buzzing. A factor was an unfavorable wind that caused inadequate altitude/clearance to maneuver and avoid nearby houses.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 1/16/1999 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1315 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Standard Time |
| Event City | LONGMONT |
| Event State | COLORADO |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 80501 |
| Event Date Year | 1999 |
| Event Date Month | 1 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | -- |
| Event Location Longitude | -- |
| Event Location Airport | |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1245 Mountain Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 160 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | BJC |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 5670 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 16 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | MST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 20000 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 0 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Unknown |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | 0 |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | 0 |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 80 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 4 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -6 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 140 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 5 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 6006 |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Unknown |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 1 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 10 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jan 16 1999 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1356 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 20 2001 4:05AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N555NP |
| NTSB Number | DEN99LA032 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | N |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Company VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Cessna |
| Aircraft Model | 182M |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | 182M |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 18259498 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2800 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | May 23 1998 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 142 |
| Airframe Hours | 2027 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | SUMMERFIELD AVIATION |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | P.O. BOX 141, 953 COUNTY RD 54 |
| Aircraft Owner City | JEFFERSON |
| Aircraft Owner State | CO |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 80456 |
| Operator is an individual? | -- |
| Operator Name | |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | |
| Operator City | |
| Operator State | |
| Operator Country | |
| Operator Zip code | |
| Operator Code | |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | Unknown |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | -- |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | -- |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | -- |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | NONE |
| Departure City | RATON |
| Departure State | NM |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 1110 |
| Departure Time Zone | MST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | 2V2 |
| Destination City | |
| Destination State | CO |
| Destination Country | |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Maneuvering |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 20 2001 4:05AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 0 |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |