Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milliken, Colorado 80543
Sunday, February 25, 1990 14:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT & HIS WIFE WERE ON A LOCAL FLT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING BELOW THE TREE TOPS OVER THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER. ONE WITNESS RPRTD THE ACFT'S WHEELS WERE SKIMMING THE WATER. JUST BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO PULL UP. HOWEVER, IT HIT THE TOP SET OF 3 WIRES, THEN CRASHED. THE PLT'S WIFE SURVIVED THE ACDNT, BUT SHE RECEIVED A SEVERE HEAD INJURY. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE PLT HAD NO USEFUL VISION IN HIS RIGHT EYE, BUT POSSESSED A MEDICAL WAIVER (STATEMENT OF DEMONSTRATED ABILITY) FOR THIS CONDITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT, INTENTIONAL BUZZING, AND FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE POWER LINE AND THE ABSENCE OF SHOULDER HARNESSES IN THE AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City MILLIKEN
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80543
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1452 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID FCL
Elevation of weather observation facility 5016
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 88
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 25 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40659
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:46PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4053H
NTSB Number DEN90FA063
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12-150
Aircraft Serial Number 12-3481
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 18 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2528
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHEEON, GUY D
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13024 JULIAN CT.
Aircraft Owner City BROOMFIELD
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80020
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SHEEON, GUY D
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3284 CHASE ST.
Operator City WHEATRIDGE
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80212
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 48V
Departure City ERIE
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone MST
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --