Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 21, 2012, about 1135 mountain daylight time, an experimental Nanchang China CJ-6A airplane, N96YK, impacted terrain near the Spanish Peaks Airfield (4V1), Walsenburg, Colorado. The private pilot and the passenger were both fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane 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 flight originated from an undetermined location and was en route to 4V1.

The pilot was flying to 4V1 to join three other airplanes for a formation flight. The other pilots in the formation were already at the airfield waiting for the accident pilot and observed the accident. The witnesses reported that the airplane approached the airfield from the north, overflew the midpoint of the runway, and entered the downwind leg for a right base turn to runway 8. The airplane was observed to lower the landing gear and extend the flap. The witnesses perceived the airplane's airspeed to slow as it started a right bank turn that quickly increased in bank angle and roll rate. The witnesses described the airplane in a spin or nose low spiral as it descended and impacted terrain.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 43, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine land. The pilot’s most recent flight review was accomplished on July 26, 2012. On July 11, 2011, the pilot was issued a third class medical certificate without limitations. On his medical certificate application, the pilot reported having accumulated 420 total hours with 70 hours in the preceding six months. The pilot is reported to have logged at least 50-60 hours in the CJ-6A and the pilot's total time is estimated about 500 hours.

The pilot was a member of the Red Star Pilots Association, and received familiarity training in the CJ-6A to include an introduction to the airplane’s stall characteristics. Other than the introduction flight, it is unknown how often, or how recent, the pilot may have practiced stall recognition and recovery flight exercises in the CJ-6A.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The tandem two-seat, low wing, single engine Nanchang China CJ-6A airplane, serial number 1232007, was manufactured in 1973. It was powered by a 285 horsepower Huosai 6JIA air-cooled radial engine driving a Nanchang J9G1, metal, two-blade propeller. The airplane was originally manufactured in China for use as a military trainer. The airplane was exported and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the experimental category for exhibition purposes. On March 14, 2012, the airplane’s most recent inspection was conducted in accordance with FAR 43 Appendix D, at an airframe total time of 2,717.5 hours and an engine total time of 677.5 hours.

Registration documents filed with the FAA show that the pilot acquired the airplane