Nanchang China CJ-6A N4184G

Summary

On 5 August 2023 at about 18:06 local time, a Nanchang China CJ-6A registered N4184G, operated by Kflyin LLC, was involved in an accident near Peyton, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 August 2023 at 18:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Peyton, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Meadow Lake Airport (KFLY)

Coordinates

38.9649, -104.5663

Aircraft

Nanchang China CJ-6A

Registration

N4184G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Kflyin LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado Springs → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23FA349

1 person died.

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while intentionally maneuvering in a steep bank at low altitude, which resulted in an accelerated aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent loss of airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident occurred during a prebriefed honor flight, performed at the conclusion of a retirement ceremony, that involved two airplanes of similar make and model flying low passes and maneuvers. Witnesses reported that the accident airplane, which was positioned behind the lead airplane, pitched up near vertical and rolled as it transitioned from the base to final leg of the airport traffic pattern. During the maneuver, the airplane entered a spiraling nose-down descent and impacted the ground. Both pilots had flown the airplanes uneventfully earlier that day. Although the lead pilot reported that they did not perform any aerobatic maneuvers during the accident flight, the accident airplane’s near-vertical climb and roll, as reported by the witnesses, was consistent with aerobatic flight. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low and right wing-low attitude and came to rest on a southeast heading about 158 ft from the initial impact area. The engine, propeller, and both wings were separated and located within the debris field. All major structural components of the airplane were located at the accident location. Examination revealed no anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. Damage signatures and witness accounts indicate that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident. Toxicology testing revealed that the pilot had an elevated HbA1c and urine glucose, with an HbA1c level indicative of uncontrolled diabetes with chronically elevated blood sugar. Symptoms of high blood sugar may include fatigue and blurred vision; in severe cases, high blood sugar can be associated with severe metabolic disturbances that can lead to altered consciousness. However, whether the pilot was experiencing significant impairing effects of his uncontrolled diabetes at the time of the accident could not be determined from the available medical evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.