Accident Details
On March 23, 2019, at 1043 mountain daylight time, a Cessna R172E, N7879N, was destroyed when it struck a power line and impacted a dairy farm 1.5 miles northwest of runway 15 at Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL), Loveland, Colorado. The airplane was registered to the U.S. Air Force and operated by the Peterson Air Force Base (AFB) Aero Club, Peterson AFB, Colorado, under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and his two passengers suffered minor injuries.
The flight originated from the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) and was en route to FNL. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot, a 10-year U.S. Army UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter pilot, was accumulating fixed-wing civilian flight time and had brought along two passengers.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, he and his passengers intended to fly from COS to FNL and return. He received multiple weather briefings before takeoff. Approaching FNL from the southwest, he announced on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) that 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. The pilot acknowledged and continued. While on base leg, he encountered a "severe down-draft/microburst." He applied full power to climb, but the airplane struck a power line and a tree before impacting terrain.
Weather Conditions
At 1056, the automated weather observation station at FNL reported wind 170° at 11 knots, visibility 10 miles, light rain, few clouds at 1,600 ft, ceilings broken at 3,800 ft, overcast at 4,800 ft, temperature 43°F, dew point 36°F, and altimeter 29.93 inHg.
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) meteorologist reviewed the weather and noted a complex wind pattern over the area with a wind shift occurring immediately after the accident time. No support for convective microburst activity was observed; however, a large area of light precipitation with potential outflow could have contributed to differing winds at the accident site. Satellite imagery, High Resolution Rapid Refresh model soundings, and pilot reports indicated support for mountain wave activity, leading to downslope winds and downdraft activity. The National Weather Service had AIRMET advisories for turbulence, IFR conditions, and mountain obscuration, but no advisory for low-level wind shear.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The aircraft, a Cessna R172E, was destroyed in the accident. It was operated by the Peterson AFB Aero Club. The pilot was a military helicopter pilot with 10 years of experience flying UH-60M Blackhawks and was using the flight to gain fixed-wing flight time.