NTSB Factual Report

On August 5, 2018, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Champion 7GCBC airplane, N90990, impacted pivot sprinkler support guy-wires and terrain during a landing on a private airstrip near Wiley, Colorado. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Lamar Municipal Airport (LAA), near Lamar, Colorado, about 0820, and was destined for the private airstrip.

According to the pilot's accident report, he was setting up for landing on his airstrip and everything seemed normal on the descent. The only thing different on this landing was that the agricultural irrigation pivot sprinkler had stopped with the sprinkler's last pipe or "overhang pipe" over the runway. The pilot thought that he was high enough to clear the sprinkler overhang pipe and had "no idea" that the airplane was not going to clear the guy-wires that support the sprinkler overhang pipe. The pilot said, "After investigating the accident later it was obvious the right landing gear tire struck the [guy-]wire. The two [guy-]wires are about 10 ft higher than the overhang pipe." The airplane's nose subsequently impacted terrain and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot released the seat belt, kicked out a side window, crawled out, and called for help. A family member took the pilot to a local hospital. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight.