Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 25, 2007, approximately 1145 mountain daylight time, a Schwarz RV-6A single-engine experimental airplane, N94KA, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering in the traffic pattern at Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY), Greeley, Colorado. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to LPV LLC, Denver, Colorado, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Erie Municipal Airport, Erie, Colorado, approximately 1115, and was destined for GXY.

According to a witness, located at GXY, he observed the airplane on a "close and tight" downwind leg for runway 34 at an altitude of approximately 400 feet above ground level. While on the downwind leg, the airplane was in "slow flight in a nose high attitude." The witness observed the airplane enter a steep left turn from the downwind to base leg, and "at that time, I thought it was going to stall and spin." The airplane's wings rolled level and the airplane began to porpoise. During the porpoise, the witness noted hearing changes to the engine power. The airplane then entered another steep left turn with the wings almost vertical to terrain. "I could see the entire top of the plane during the turn and the engine RPM was increased dramatically, maybe to full power." The witness observed the "nose pitch up and the right wing stall...as if a falling leaf." Subsequently, the airplane entered a spin (1.5 rotations) and impacted terrain. The witness stated that during his observation "the engine was operating under power the entire time."

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 70, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument ratings. The pilot's most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on October 11, 2006. The pilot's most recent flight review was conducted on March 17, 2007, in the accident airplane.

A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that pilot had accumulated 815.9 total flight hours and 19.7 flight hours in the accident airplane. The pilot had accumulated 6.9 hours and 1.6 hours in the preceding 90 and 30 days, respectively. The pilot's first flight in the accident airplane was conducted on December 15, 2006.

According to a friend of the pilot, the pilot started flying in 1984. In December 2006, the pilot purchased a 1/3 share of the accident airplane. The friend stated the pilot was in good health and was "a very conservative individual."

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The 1996-model Schwarz RV-6A, serial number 22162, was a low-wing, fixed tricycle gear, experimental amateur-built airplane. The airplane was powered by a four-cylinder, direct drive, air cooled, horizontally-opposed, carbureted Lycoming O-320-E2D engine (serial number L-3936-27A), rated at 160 horsepower,