Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Niwot, Colorado 80504
Saturday, December 24, 2005 9:25 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the airplane flying low over a reservoir, pull straight up, perform a "barrel roll", reverse direction, and depart the area. Approximately 30 minutes later, the airplane returned to the area, flying in an east to west direction, approximately 100 to 200 feet agl over the ice-covered reservoir. As the airplane reached the west end of the reservoir, the airplane went straight up and performed an aerobatic "barrel roll" maneuver. The airplane then descended straight down and impacted the edge of the ice-covered reservoir in a nose-down attitude. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded operation. The pilot had not logged any formal aerobatic training.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper in-flight decision to perform aerobatics at a low altitude resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of aerobatic experience.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/24/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 925
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Niwot
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80504
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400222N
Event Location Longitude 1051333W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 930 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5670
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 16000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 19730
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Northwest Mountain Region
NTSB Notification Date Dec 24 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2006 1:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver, CO FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94CV
NTSB Number DEN06LA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Syracuse
Aircraft Model Kitfox
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number ECZ 007
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 793
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Neil Bresler
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1002 N. 119th Street
Aircraft Owner City Lafayette
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90026
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 48V
Departure City ERIE
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
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 Mar 29 2006 11:31AM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --