Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he decided to return to the destination airport after flying for about an hour. After completing a 180-degree turn, the airplane began losing altitude. The pilot reported that the throttle was full-in, and the airplane was maintaining sufficient airspeed; however, the reason for the altitude loss could not be ascertained. The pilot said he then elected to make a precautionary landing in an open field. While on final, the landing gear wheels struck a barbed wire fence, which pulled the wheels up, and the airplane immediately nosed over after touchdown. The pilot reported no mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 27, 2007, about 1800 mountain standard time, an experimental Riesland Fly Baby 1, N3124L, collided with a fence during a precautionary landing, subsequently coming to rest inverted in a field 18 miles east of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN), Grand Canyon, Arizona. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage after it struck a fence. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot's written statement, his intent was to fly in the area for about an hour. He departed to the south and then turned to the east; this kept the sun out of his eyes. He was over flying an open field when he decided to turn back for the airport. The airplane was at 500 feet above ground level (agl), and he made a 180-degree turn, with a 30-35 degree bank angle. After rolling out of the turn, the airplane began to sink. The pilot stated the throttle was full-in, and the airplane had "plenty of airspeed," but he decided to make a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing, the landing gear wheels clipped a barbed wire fence that he had not seen until he was "right on top of it." The wheels seized up, and after the airplane touched down, it immediately nosed over, structurally damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.