Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 16, 2012, approximately 0820 mountain daylight time, an experimental light sport KR2S airplane, N966G, registered to the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground while maneuvering to land at the Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB), Pueblo, Colorado. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated about 0814 from PUB and was returning to land when the accident occurred.

The airplane departed from runway 26L about 0814. Two minutes later, the pilot called PUB tower and requested to return to the airport for suspected carburetor icing. The tower controller acknowledged the call and told the pilot to enter a left base for runway 26L. The controller also asked the pilot if he needed any assistance, and the pilot replied that he did not. He was then cleared to land the airplane on runway 26L.

The controller observed that the airplane was approaching the airport "fast" and appeared to attempt a go-around maneuver. The airplane then made a hard turn to the right as if it was trying to land on runway 8L. The controller estimated that the airplane was about 200 feet AGL in the right turn. The airplane appeared to stall and descended toward the ground in a nose low, right wing down attitude. It impacted a grass covered near the northwest corner of where runway 26R and runway 17 intersect. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot held three FAA issued certificates; Private Pilot Single Engine Land, Sport Pilot, and Repairman Experimental Aircraft Builder. According to FAA records, the pilot's most recent medical exam was dated December 7, 2001. On the date of the 2001 medical exam the pilot was issued a Class III medical certificate. The notes section of the certificate stated that the pilot shall possess glasses for near/intermediate vision. The pilots reported flight time during the 2001 exam was 1,500 hours. Pilot log books were not available during the investigation to verify additional hours since the 2001 medical exam. In discussions with the pilot's associates, it is estimated that the pilot had about 2,000 hours of flight time at the time of the accident, 200 of which were in the accident airplane. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe airplane, model KR2S experimental homebuilt, was manufactured by the pilot. FAA records indicate that construction of the airplane began in October of 2004. The airplane was issued its Experimental Homebuilt airworthiness certificate on May 5, 2007. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-C2 engine. Airframe and engine logbooks were not available during the investigation. In discussions with the pilot's associates, it is estimated that the total airframe and engine times at the time of the accident was about 200 hours.

An associate of the pilot reported tha