Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On September 13, 2017, about 1337 mountain daylight time, a Vans RV-6 experimental airplane, N812SM, registered to the pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground following a loss of control during an attempted go-around at Kelly Airpark (CO15), Elbert, Colorado. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from the La Junta Municipal Airport (LHX), La Junta, Colorado, at 1300.

The pilot stated that he was 5 miles south of CO15 and called the automated weather observing system (AWOS) via radio. He stated that the AWOS reported wind from 280° at 24 knots with gusts of 32 knots. He called AWOS again while entering the base leg for runway 27 and the reported wind again was from 280° with gusts of 32 knots. Upon turning to final, the pilot felt the strong wind and added power to stay higher than a normal approach. With flaps set to 40°, the pilot decreased power and started to flare. He stated that the wheels hit hard and the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind moved the airplane to the south off the runway. After another bounce, the pilot added power and attempted a go-around. The airplane struck a cistern to the left of the runway, a fence, and came to rest inverted.

A witnesses stated that there were strong wind gusts at the time of the accident. The nearest weather reporting facility was located about two miles from the accident site, and at 1329, the wind was reported from 280° at 21 knots with gusts of 25 knots. The pilot’s improper landing flare in strong gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his loss of directional control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with objects.