PROLE, IA, USA
N6161Q
ROBERT ELDON IDLER TIERRA-2
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE TWO-SEAT REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED THE GUST FRONT FROM AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM WHICH WAS LOCATED 7 TO 15 MILES AWAY. THE ULTRALIGHT ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT DESCENDING BANK, WHICH THE PILOT COULD COULD NOT ARREST WITH FULL OPPOSITE AILERON INPUT. THE ULTRALIGHT IMPACTED TREES AND WAS DESTROYED.
On August 25, 1994, at 1915 hours central daylight time, a Tierra-2, 2 seat registered ultralight aircraft, N6161Q, operated by Robert Idler of West Des Moines, Iowa, impacted wooded, hilly terrain 8 miles southwest of Des Moines, Iowa, and was destroyed. The Airline Transport rated pilot and passenger received minor injuries. No fire occurred. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, originated from Chandler Field on the Gene Wilson Farm in rural Prole, Iowa, at 1900 central daylight time. The pilot reported that he took off in clear weather and was overrun by the gust front of an approaching thunderstorm which was located between 7 and 15 miles away. The aircraft entered an uncommanded right descending turn, which the pilot reported he was unable to counter with full left aileron input. He also reported that the engine operated normally until the aircraft impacted trees.
the airplane's encounter with the outflow (gust front) from an approaching thunderstorm. Factors were the pilot's inaccurate evaluation of the gust front location, and the inability of the airplanes flight control system to compensate for the rolling moment.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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