NTSB Factual Report

On March 7, 2004, at approximately 1715 mountain standard time, a Shook Rans S-12, N7138K, was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed following collision with terrain at the Lazy W, a private airstrip near Berthoud, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed at approximately 1610.

According to the pilot, he was practicing landings at both the Lazy W airstrip and the Ft. Collins-Loveland Airport (FNL). (Lazy W is approximately 5 nautical miles southwest of FNL.) The pilot reported that he entered a left downwind traffic pattern for the east/west runway at Lazy W, intending to land to the east. He "checked the wind sock and it was just fluttering with a very slight, if at all, crosswind... from the north." During the landing flare, he encountered a gust of wind from the north and the airplane stalled approximately 10 feet above the ground. The airplane bounced once and during the second impact with the ground, all three landing gear collapsed, wrinkling the fuselage.

According to the FNL METAR (aviation routine weather report) taken at 1715, winds were reported as 150 degrees at 3 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper flare and his inadequate compensation for wind. The wind gust was a contributing factor.