Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
Thursday, March 8, 2012 12:50 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane at a private landing strip on his property. The flag near the landing location indicated a calm wind. The pilot said that the airplane encountered some turbulence and wind gusts during the landing approach. He attempted a go-around and made a right turn to avoid the rising terrain. He said that he did not maintain flying speed and the airplane impacted trees and the wing spars were substantially damaged. The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed and airplane control during the go-around, which resulted in the airplane impacting trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/8/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Fort Collins
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80525
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403228N
Event Location Longitude 1045906W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4888
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 196
Weather Observation Facility ID FNL
Elevation of weather observation facility 5016
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.46
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KFNL 081755Z AUTO 24005KT 10SM CLR 03/M10 A3046
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29800
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Mtn-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 16 2012 1:51PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2986P
NTSB Number CEN12CA183
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-4499
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 Oct 9 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3856
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Ft Collins
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80525
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Ft Collins
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 80525
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 1230
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Fort Collins
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2012 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --