Low Level Ag Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Salle, Colorado 80645
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 15:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he was "dragging" the airstrip, or flying low over the runway to ascertain its condition. He allowed the airplane to get too low. The wheels contacted the deep snow and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed a buckled right lift strut and a crushed vertical fin and rudder.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground. Contributing factors included the pilot's intentional low pass and his misjudging his altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/17/2007
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City La Salle
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80645
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 401962N
Event Location Longitude 1044113W
Event Location Airport Low Level Ag Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4711
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1515 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID GXY
Elevation of weather observation facility 4697
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21239
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Northwest Mountain Region
NTSB Notification Date Jan 17 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 26 2007 9:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver, Colorado

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1670V
NTSB Number DEN07CA052
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 120
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 13842
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 130
Airframe Hours 4230
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Johnathan P. Lemley
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2118 C St., N.W.
Aircraft Owner City Greeley
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80631
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 GXY
Departure City Greeley
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GXY
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2007 8:49AM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --