Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On May 31, 1999, approximately 0916 mountain daylight time, a Crozier Emeraude, N99PC, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Delta, Colorado. The student pilot and sole occupant aboard was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR part 91.

According to his accident report, the student pilot had flown from Delta's Blake Field to Delta's Hawkins Field, where he met his instructor. After making five takeoffs and landings, the instructor disembarked and the student pilot took off to return to Blake Field. He said the wind "was crossfield at about 5 mph." When he raised the tail to lift off, the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder, but this did not correct the excursion. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The instructor, who witnessed the accident, said it appeared that a tailwind gust had raised the tail.

Reportedly, the airplane sustained minor damage. The pilot suffered fractures of the left clavicle and scapula.

The pilot reported he had logged 43.7 hours total time in airplanes, of which 20.6 were in the Emeraude, and 12.6 hours total pilot-in-command time, of which 8.8 hours were in the Emeraude. The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusty tailwind and crosswinds reported, and the pilot's total lack of aeronautical experience.