Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On May 28, 2012, approximately 1215 mountain daylight time, a Tackabury Air-Cam experimental amateur-built airplane, N788RJ, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while landing at the Fort Morgan Municipal Airport (KFMM), Fort Morgan, Colorado. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from KFMM approximately 1100.

Family members reported that the pilot had completed two flights on the day of the accident, and the accident occurred during a third flight. During the first flight, the pilot performed four or five touch and go landings on runway 8/26. During the second flight, the pilot took his daughter, who was also the passenger during the accident flight, to observe their cattle from the air. The passenger stated that during the third flight, the accident flight, they flew over Empire Reservoir. The accident flight lasted about one hour.

The passenger had flown with the pilot for years and stated that the approach to runway 17 was normal. She stated that just before the airplane touched down, a strong gust of wind turned the airplane sharply to the right about 90 degrees. The passenger stated that the pilot added power to go around. The airplane continued to the right for several seconds before impacting the ground.

Several witnesses located to the south and west of runway 17 observed the airplane approaching to land. One witness stated that the airplane disappeared from view, behind terrain, for a few moments and then reappeared. The airplane was in a steep climb and several witnesses described a steep bank to the right. The airplane climbed to 40 or 50 feet above the ground before it descended to the ground and cartwheeled.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 65, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single and multiengine land ratings issued on March 10, 2012. His certificate contained the limitation “Passenger carrying in airplanes for hire is prohibited at night and on cross country flights of more than 50 nautical miles.” He was issued a second class airman medical certificate on July 12, 2010. The certificate contained the limitation “Holder shall wear lenses correcting near and distant while exercising the privileges of his airman certificate.”

A review of the pilot’s flight logbook indicated that he had logged no less than 2,054.9 hours total flight time; 11.7 hours in multiengine airplanes and 10.7 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. The pilot successfully completed the requirements of a flight review on March 9, 2012.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot manufactured the airplane, a Tackabury