Pilot Debrief

MORSE FRANK L REBEL near Eagle, CO, CO — 2015-06-05

Final reportCEN15FA257
Sign in to save
Date
2015-06-05
Location
Eagle, CO, CO, USA
Airport
EGE
Aircraft
MORSE FRANK L REBEL
Registration
N914FM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty, crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the recommended limitation of the airplane.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the experimental, amateur-built airplane in gusty, crosswind conditions. Witnesses observed the airplane enter a sharp left turn away from the runway at a very low altitude, overfly the airport taxiway and ramp area, then impact a hangar on the airport property. A witness stated that "the wind caught [the airplane]" as it was landing. The airplane had a stated crosswind limitation of 15 knots. Based on recorded wind data, the calculated crosswind component was between 13.7 knots and 16.8 knots. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The accident sequence is consistent with the pilot losing control of the airplane while landing in gusty, crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the recommended crosswind limitation of the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing due to high winds before losing control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • FDR / data
  • 16 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents16

Related mishaps