Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On May 22, 2011, approximately 1050 mountain daylight time, an amateur built Cassutt III M airplane, N420FH, impacted terrain while maneuvering after takeoff near Erie, Colorado. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage and a post-crash fire ensued. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a flight test. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was being operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The accident flight was the airplane's first flight or maiden flight. A witness observed the airplane takeoff from the airport, climb to about 300 feet, and enter a sudden left turn. The airplane was then observed to descend towards the ground and impact terrain.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 64, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. A third class airman medical certificate was issued on December 9, 2009, with the limitation that the pilot must have glasses available for near vision. On his medical application, the pilot reported using Atenolol to control his high blood pressure. At the time of the last medical application, the pilot reported having logged 1,975 hours with 35 hours in the previous six months.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Cassutt is a low-wing, fixed gear airplane, serial number NAC 2009-1, was built by the accident from plans, and was completed in 2011. It was powered by a 100 horsepower experimental engine, which drove a Sterba 58x64 2-bladed wood propeller. The airplane employed a steel tubing frame, covered with fiberglass, fabric, and laminated plywood. The airplane’s airworthiness certificate and experimental operating limitations were issued on May 16, 2011.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1049, the automated weather observation facility at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado, reported wind 240 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 19 knots, visibility 40 miles, few clouds at 7,000 feet, broken layers at 15,000 and 20,000, temperature 64 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.88 inches of Mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane collided with trees located 350 yards west-northwest of the runway's departure end. Downed tree limbs and impact marks on aspen trees revealed an impact angle of approximately 50 degrees nose down. A two foot deep crater contained fragments of the airplane's composite materials as well as portions of the wooden propeller. The airplane was found inverted, approximately eight feet from the impact crater. A post-crash fire consumed most of the airplane's coverings. All airplane components were found at the accident scene. A portion of the right wing composite casing was found separat