Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On March 15, 2003, approximately 1140 mountain standard time, an Aviat A-1B, N60HY, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing roll at Centennial Airport, Englewood, 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 instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Englewood approximately 1100.

The following is based in the pilot's accident report and corroborated by an FAA inspector. The pilot made a crosswind landing on runway 35L and "encountered a gusty wind" on landing roll. He said he lost directional control of the airplane and it ground looped to the left. The right wing spar and right aileron were bent. In addition, the right main landing gear collapsed and the fuselage was buckled.

The recorded wind at 1153 was from 040 degrees at 7 knots, variable between 010 degrees and 070 degrees. the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.