Witts & Church WORLOCH N3201K
6 May 1993 · Lucerne, Colorado, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 6 May 1993 at about 23:50 local time, a Witts & Church WORLOCH registered N3201K, operated by Witts, P. & Church, L., was involved in an accident near Lucerne, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lucerne, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Witts & Church WORLOCH
- Registration
- N3201K
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Witts, P. & Church, L.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Greeley → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN93FA054
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE LEFT RUDDER IN MOST FLIGHT ATTITUDES, SO THE PILOT FABRICATED A PART TO INCREASE THE ANGLE ON INCIDENCE BY OFFSETTING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. AFTER INSTALLING THE PART, HE TOOK OFF ON A TEST FLIGHT AND HIS PARTNER FOLLOWED IN A CHASE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A SHALLOW DESCENT AND YAW SLIGHTLY ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS, ALSO DESCRIBED AS SHALLOW DUTCH ROLLS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD A PROBLEM AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE FABRICATED PART WAS NEVER FOUND. A SMALL HOLE HAD BEEN DRILLED THROUGH THE TUBE WHERE THE LEADING EDGE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER ATTACHES, BUT NO HOLE HAD BEEN DRILLED THROUGH THE MATING TUBE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT A PIN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SAFETIED THROUGH THIS HOLE. IF COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE PILOT HAD INSERTED THE PIN PRIOR TO TAKING OFF. LOAD CARRYING BRACE WIRES BENEATH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS WERE FOUND STRETCHED IN TENSION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 1993 | Cessna 172F | Co. Springs, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1993 | Beechcraft A36TC | Pueblo, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Nov 1993 | Bellanca BL17-31ATC | Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1993 | Cessna 210 | Monte Vista, Colorado, United States | Anderson, Robert W. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Nov 1993 | Cessna R172K | Mancos, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Nov 1993 | Cessna A185F | Maybell, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |