Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 10, 2000, at approximately 1030 mountain daylight time, a Fisher Glastar GS-1, N99DF, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a pivotal sprinkler system during takeoff from a farm near Berthoud, Colorado. The private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot's accident report, the airplane drifted slightly to the left (north) as he landed to the east, going uphill, on the private airstrip. He noted irrigation equipment on the south side of the airstrip. Takeoff was made to the west going downhill and he noticed "considerable drift to the right (north)." He lowered the left wing to correct for the drift. As the airplane lifted off, the left wing struck an irrigation buggy wheel, causing the airplane to spin around 180 degrees. The airplane slid backwards, tearing off the tail wheel, and came to a halt under the sprinkler arm. A report filed by the Larimer County Sheriff's Department corroborated the events reported by the pilot.

The wind recorded at the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, located 13 miles north of the accident site, was from the south (160 degrees) at 7 knots with gusts to 14 knots. The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during takeoff. A factor was the irrigation equipment.