Irving Siewert OSPREY GP-4 N85Z

Summary

On 25 June 1993 at about 15:30 local time, a Irving Siewert OSPREY GP-4 registered N85Z was involved in an accident near Canon City, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 1993 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Canon City, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Irving Siewert OSPREY GP-4

Registration

N85Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN93LA069

1 person died.

FAILURE BY THE PILOT/BUILDER TO FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS AND THE USE OF IMPROPER MATERIALS DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE ON A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT BROKE UP IN FLIGHT WITH THE CANOPY AND HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL STABILIZER SEPARATING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. REVIEW OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT THE PILOT/BUILDER HAD USED A NON STANDARD CANOPY LATCH AND CONSTRUCTED THE WINDSHIELD BOW FROM FIBERGLASS VICE THE ALUMINUM MATERIAL REQUIRED. THE CANOPY CAME OFF IN FLIGHT AND STRUCK THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CAUSING THE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL STABILIZER TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.