What happened
On June 5, 2015, a Morse Rebel experimental amateur-built airplane, registration N914FM, struck a hangar and parking ramp at Eagle Regional Airport (EGE) in Eagle, Colorado. The accident occurred at 16:47 mountain daylight time during a personal cross-country flight.
GPS data recovered from various devices indicated the aircraft had flown from south-central Minnesota, with stops at Martin Field Airport in Iowa and Holyoke Airport in Colorado, before proceeding toward EGE. During the approach to runway 25, the tower controller reported winds of 220 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 26 knots.
As the aircraft was landing, a witness observed the wind catching the airplane. The aircraft climbed away from the runway and performed a rapid 180-degree left turn. The flight path took the aircraft over the airport parking ramp on an easterly heading in a slightly nose-high attitude. Just before impact, the airplane entered a left descending roll and struck the west face of hangar number four at approximately 35 feet above the ground. The aircraft then fell to the parking ramp and came to rest inverted.
The crash resulted in 1 fatal injury and 1 serious injury. There were no injuries to individuals on the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that flight control continuity was verified and no pre-impact anomalies were noted in the engine or airplane systems. The aircraft''s flaperon handle position could not be determined due to the damage from the impact.
A performance study using GPS data from a recovered Samsung Galaxy Tab and weather data from the airport showed the aircraft crossed the runway threshold at an equivalent airspeed of 75 knots and slowed to 65 knots. About 18 seconds after crossing the threshold, approximately 1,200 feet down the runway, the aircraft turned sharply to the left.
While the Pilot's Operating Manual stated a maximum recommended crosswind of 15 knots at 90 degrees, the calculated crosswind component based on recorded wind data was between 13.7 knots and 16.8 knots.