Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On June 3, 2004, at 1555 mountain daylight time, a LET Blanik L-13, N99860, operated by Durango Soaring Club, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a landing at Val-Air Airport (CD82), Durango, Colorado. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local scenic flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had departed at 1518.

According to the passenger's statement, the flight was uneventful. As the flight approached the airport, the pilot told the passenger that "he likes to come in down to the landing strip and then take off again." They flew over the field to observe the winds. They were calm. According to the pilot's statement, he decided to "fly a low approach over the field and turn around and land." During the pull-up from the low approach, the pilot expected to gain at least "300 feet"; however, he only gained 100 feet. At this point, the glider was over the river with trees ahead and elected to maneuver back to the field. During the turn back to the runway, the right wing impacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. A post-accident examination revealed that the outboard portion of the right wing was bent up approximately 15 degrees, the fuselage nose was fractured, and the empennage bent. the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain, and the low approach.