NTSB Factual Report

On January 26, 2003, at 1514 mountain standard time, a Rothrock Cozy Mark IV, N320FR, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when the pilot lost control during landing and the airplane nosed over at the Erie-Tri County Airport (48V), Erie, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local, personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane sustained minor injuries.

The pilot reported that during landing on runway 33 (4,700 feet by 60 feet, dry concrete) he encountered a strong crosswind. The airplane departed the right side of the runway. The pilot said the wing caught [on the ground] and the airplane flipped over on its back.

The airplane was examined at 48V. The examination showed the airplane resting on its back near the east edge of runway 33. Both of the airplane's wings were broken aft and shattered. The propeller was also broken and shattered. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.

At 1447, the reported winds at the Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, located 197 degrees at approximately 9 nautical miles from the accident site, was 280 degrees at 20 knots with gusts of 26 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing factors were the high crosswinds and the gusts.