N90990

Substantial
Serious

Champion 7GCBCS/N: 440-73

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, August 5, 2018
NTSB Number
CEN18LA316
Location
Wiley, CO
Event ID
20180805X21934
Coordinates
38.197776, -102.774719
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain proper clearance from the sprinkler guy-wire, which resulted in the airplane’s collision with the wire during a visual approach to landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N90990
Make
CHAMPION
Serial Number
440-73
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1973
Model / ICAO
7GCBCCH7B
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
WOLLERT RICHARD C
Address
40645 RD 35
Status
Deregistered
City
WILEY
State / Zip Code
CO 81092
Country
United States

Analysis

On August 5, 2018, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Champion 7GCBC airplane, N90990, impacted pivot sprinkler support guy-wires and terrain during a landing on a private airstrip near Wiley, Colorado. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Lamar Municipal Airport (LAA), near Lamar, Colorado, about 0820, and was destined for the private airstrip.According to the pilot's accident report, he was setting up for landing on his airstrip and everything seemed normal on the descent. The only thing different on this landing was that the agricultural irrigation pivot sprinkler had stopped with the sprinkler's last pipe or "overhang pipe" over the runway. The pilot thought that he was high enough to clear the sprinkler overhang pipe and had "no idea" that the airplane was not going to clear the guy-wires that support the sprinkler overhang pipe. The pilot said, "After investigating the accident later it was obvious the right landing gear tire struck the [guy-]wire. The two [guy-]wires are about 10 ft higher than the overhang pipe." The airplane's nose subsequently impacted terrain and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot released the seat belt, kicked out a side window, crawled out, and called for help. A family member took the pilot to a local hospital. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN18LA316