Amateur-built SYLKIE 1 accident near Erie, Colorado, July 22, 1996
On July 22, 1996 at about 1:40 am local time, a amateur-built SYLKIE 1, registered N711WB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado (Parkland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot passenger's failure to maintain clearance from the fence due to his failure to maintain a proper glide path, and the pilot-in-command's failure to take remedial action in a timely fashion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1996 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Parkland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SYLKIE 1
- Registration
- N711WB · registry record · serial B-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing with a private pilot passenger manipulating the controls, the airplane struck a six foot chain link fence post approximately 175 feet from the threshold. The pilot-in-command took the controls, aborted the landing, and proceeded to JeffCo Airport where there were personnel and equipment to handle the emergency landing. The airplane circled the air traffic control tower, and ATC personnel confirmed the left main gear was down, and the 'right wheel was missing.' The pilot lost control of the airplane during the landing and the airplane was damaged further.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 297 hours in all; 211 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 461 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1996; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7CO0
- Destination: BFC Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,200 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from BJC, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.