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Pilot loses control after encountering down draft

By NTSB · March 23, 2021 ·

On March 23, 2019, a Cessna R172E was destroyed when it hit a power line, then a dairy farm 1.5 miles northwest of Runway 15 at Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL), in Loveland, Colorado. The pilot was seriously injured and his two passengers sustained minor injuries.

The airplane was registered to the U.S. Air Force and operated by the Peterson Air Force Base (AFB) Aero Club.

The pilot, a 10-year U.S. Army UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter pilot, said he was accumulating fixed-wing civilian flight time and had brought along two passengers.

According to the pilot, he and his passengers intended to fly from KCOS to KFNL and return. He said he was weather briefed for the flight and received multiple weather briefings before takeoff. As they approached KFNL from the southwest, he made a call on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and reported he was entering a right traffic pattern for Runway 15.

Another pilot heard the report and advised him of “significant down drafts” on the approach to Runway 15. The pilot acknowledged the transmission and continued his approach.

When he turned onto the base leg, he encountered the “severe down-draft/microburst” the other pilot had mentioned. He applied full power in an attempt to climb out, but the airplane hit a power-line and tree, and then terrain.

At the time of the accident, the automated weather observation station at KFNL reported wind 170° at 11 kts, visibility of 10 miles, light rain, few clouds at 1,600 feet, ceilings 3,800 feet broken, 4,800 feet overcast, temperature 43°F, dew point 36°F, and altimeter setting 29.93 inches of Mercury.

A NTSB meteorologist’s review of the weather showed that a complex wind pattern existed over the area during the period with a wind shift occurring immediately after the time of the accident.

No support for convective microburst activity was noted over the area, however a large area of light intensity precipitation with some potential for some outflow was noted, which could have resulted in the different winds occurring over the accident site during the period.

In addition, the High Resolution Rapid Refresh model sounding and satellite imagery and pilot reports noted support for mountain wave activity over the area, which supported downslope winds and downdraft activity in the area at the time of the accident. The National Weather Service had AIRMET advisories for turbulence and IFR and mountain obscuration conditions over the area, but no advisory for low-level wind shear.

Probable Cause: An inflight loss of control on landing approach due to encountering a down-draft, and the pilot’s failure to take timely action to abandon the approach and perform a go-around.

NTSB Identification: 99171

This March 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. JimH in CA says

    March 24, 2021 at 6:18 pm

    This pilot continued the flight in rain and low ceilings, which he canceled the day before.
    Then makes right traffic, where the pattern for both runways is left traffic…why ?
    Maybe since he approached from the SW it was shorter. But it’s just as easy to cross mid-field for a left downwind.
    Maybe turning west on base, he might not have gotten hit with the downdraft, or it may have been a headwind gust.
    The T-41D is a high performance Cessna that the USAF Aero Clubs operate, having the Cont. IO-360, 210 HP. and even at 5,000 ft msl, will climb at better than 1,000 fpm, so it must have been a sever gust.

    I would question this pilot’s ADM, and wouldn’t want him flying me in a commercial aircraft.

    • Wylbur Wrong says

      March 24, 2021 at 6:43 pm

      Right Traffic? Because he was still transitioning from rotor-wing aircraft?

      Having flown the C182, I don’t think a 210HP C172 is going to have enough to power out of a micro-burst if a large jet aircraft can’t do it.

    • Dale L. Weir says

      March 25, 2021 at 8:53 am

      Thought I was the only one that noticed the right hand pattern, guessing “pattern of convenience” since he was approaching from that direction. Although it may or may not have contributed to this accident one might be curious about his attitude toward flying general aviation airplanes….

      • JimH in CA says

        March 25, 2021 at 9:45 am

        It is a class D airport now, so the tower will be advising approaching aircraft how to enter the pattern.
        Whatever the pilots thoughts and actions, he sure ‘balled up’ a classic aircraft.
        Looking at the wreckage photos, I’m surprised that anyone survived the crash.!

        • Dale L. Weir says

          March 25, 2021 at 3:27 pm

          Agreed, first saw this on Kathryn’s Report a couple of weeks ago. Amazing that they survived…

  2. Jim Macklin. ATP/CFII. says

    March 24, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    I encounter a down burst about 1975 at KWPA. I was checking out a TEXAS INTL airl I be to rent and get current in ASEL. He wanted to take his grandkids flying.
    Using 17R with. bc 600 foot pattern we had don’t two landings.
    There was a dark cloud over Lake Overholtzer just. bcc mile or two SW of the runway.
    At about 500 agl there was a black curtain. We began a 45-50° right turn. There was a group of trees just at the southwest corner of the airport. THE LEAVES ARE VERY VERY BIG.
    As soon as we were headed north all was normal. Told the tower and requested a full stop on 17L. Ttaxied to the hanger and put the Piper away. Went to the Cation lobby and watched for 30 minutes or so as the rain and wind drifted north. We could see the wind strike the ground, blowing in all directions.

  3. Wylbur Wrong says

    March 24, 2021 at 7:09 am

    Had this been at DFW, they would not have reported that the airline pilot failed to go around. Actually, they did note that they had attempted to go around but the microburst caused them to run into the ground. And that was the point that we started getting sensors to detect these problems.

    So because this was Part 91, we get treated differently when the plane doesn’t have the thrust to overcome the problem. This pilot was trying to go around. But it is said it was untimely. Had this been a 135 operation, it would have been treated differently in my opinion.

  4. AllanG says

    March 24, 2021 at 5:02 am

    This report came in the same General Aviation email/newsletter as the Jamie Beckett article “The only thing to fear…”

    I think this is the stuff that scares away new or potentially new pilots. The thinking would be as follows: “If a Blackhawk helicopter pilot cannot control a simple Cessna 172, then what chance do I have? That would never happen in my car.”

    It might be good if more articles started appearing about the overall safety of flying, statistically speaking. Newbies might be more encouraged to spend the money.

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