Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
Learn from Colorado's accident history to fly safer in the Rockies
2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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Minor/None
Aspen, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
Prior to takeoff, the pilot was warned by tower controllers to use caution for wake turbulence from a preceding large business jet . During takeoff roll, prior to the tailwheel becoming airborne, the airplane ground-looped to the left and came to rest beside the runway. The pilot stated that the winds were calm and that he did not wait a sufficient amount of time behind the preceding airplane before starting his takeoff. Examination of the airplane revealed a bent right wing spar, bent right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a preceding large business jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence.
Case Study & Lessons Learned
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NTSB Findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Attain/maintain not possible
Details
| NTSB Report | CEN09CA544 |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA-18 |
| Registration | N350CC |
| Damage | SUBS |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 39.2231, -106.8689 |
