Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gill, Colorado 80524
Saturday, March 13, 1999 18:48 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

There were no witnesses to the accident, and no one saw the airplane depart the airport. The pilot's watch had stopped at 6:48. Official sunset occurred at 1803, and civil twilight ended at 1830. The wreckage path began approximately 150 feet east of a small hill and was 270 feet in length. At the beginning of the wreckage path were three ground furrows, dimensionally similar to the airplane's nose and main landing gears. Just beyond were two perpendicular scars, dimensionally similar to the airplane's wings. The crush angle taken from the propeller spinner was 32 degrees. A person who had previously flown with the pilot said he like to do 'roller coaster' drops in which he lifted the nose of the aircraft and let it fall toward the ground. He also like to play games such as 'chase the river,' in which he flew low over a river and raced floating sticks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's intentional maneuvering at an unwarranted low altitude resulting in a collision with the ground. Factors were the pilot's ostentatious behavioral display and reduced lighting (dusk) conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/13/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1848
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GILL
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80524
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 3
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 1655 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 255
Weather Observation Facility ID GXY
Elevation of weather observation facility 4658
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4866
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 109
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 919
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 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 N6085A
NTSB Number DEN99FA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 28685
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Apr 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 123
Airframe Hours 4449
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BYRON JENKINS & JAMES PAPKA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3500 35TH AVE., LOT 183
Aircraft Owner City GREELEY
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80634
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 GXY
Departure City GREELEY
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 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 --