Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On February 17, 2002, approximately 0920 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N4642J, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain following a loss on control during landing at Animas Air Park, Durango, Colorado. The student pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local training flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated approximately 0900.

According to the pilot's accident report, he made one touch and go landing on runway 19. On the second touch and go landing, he overcorrected for a slight right crosswind. The airplane departed the right (west) side of the runway and struck a 3 foot tall pile of dirt, and the left main gear collapsed. The airplane traveled back across the runway and came to rest on the east side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage, left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. In addition, two runway lights were broken. The pilot said, "I had slept poorly the previous two nights and in retrospect, I believe fatigue was a significant factor in this accident."

At 0953, the recorded wind condition at Durango-La Plata County Airport, Durango, Colorado, located 8 miles southeast of the accident site, was 100 degrees, at 4 knots. the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing factors were the crosswind and the pilot's fatigue from lack of sleep.