Summary
On May 26, 2004, a Bellanca 7KCAB (N4173Y) was involved in an accident near Peyton, CO. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making and his failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the pilot's failure to perform a go-around and the wind gust.
On May 26, 2004, at approximately 1720 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N4173Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing at Meadow Lake Airport (00V), Peyton, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a fight plan. The flight originated at approximately 1630.
According to the pilot, as he returned to Meadow Lake, he received weather conditions from the local Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). ASOS reported winds from 250 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
This accident is documented in NTSB report DEN04LA081. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4173Y.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making and his failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the pilot's failure to perform a go-around and the wind gust.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On May 26, 2004, at approximately 1720 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N4173Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing at Meadow Lake Airport (00V), Peyton, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a fight plan. The flight originated at approximately 1630.
According to the pilot, as he returned to Meadow Lake, he received weather conditions from the local Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). ASOS reported winds from 250 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The pilot decided to "attempt a landing." While on final approach for runway 33, the pilot noticed that his rate of descent had increased to approximately 1000 feet per minute. The pilot added engine power, and increased the airplane's angle of attack and bank, to compensate for the crosswind conditions. The pilot said that during the flare, the airplane "floated" and he had to fly at an "unsafe bank angle...to maintain [runway] centerline." The pilot decided to abort the landing and added full power for a go-around.
The pilot said, at approximately 10 to 25 feet above the ground, a gust of wind struck the airplane and although he was not able to maintain runway centerline, the airplane "seemed to be controllable." The pilot said he was unable to maintain level flight and the airplane continued to drift to the right of the runway centerline. When he entered a 20 to 30 degree right bank to avoid some trees, the airplane's right wing struck the ground. The airplane cart wheeled several times causing substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage, wings, and empennage.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN04LA081