Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On December 28, 2003, approximately 1200 mountain standard time, N5609B, a Cessna 182 (tailwheel conversion), registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing roll at the Platte Valley Airpark, Hudson, Colorado. The private pilot and his student pilot certificated-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Kelly Airpark, Elbert, Colorado, approximately 1125.

In a telephone interview with the pilot, he said he was landing on runway 33 into a left 30-degree crosswind. In his accident report, however, he indicated it was a 70-degree crosswind. "An apparent gust" of approximately 40 mph "caused the airplane to ground loop to the left side of the runway. The airplane departed the runway, "it appears the right wheel dug into the sandy ground," and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed; the propeller, engine mounts, and both wings were bent, and the windshield was shattered.

According to the Wind Component Chart, under the conditions described by the pilot, a 30-degree, 40 mph crosswind would produce a crosswind component of 20 mph. A 70-degree, 40 mph crosswind would produce a crosswind component of 38 mph. According to a Cessna Aircraft Company spokesperson, the maximum crosswind component for the airplane is 15 mph. the pilot's failure to maintain directional control due to an excessive crosswind component, resulting in an uncontrolled groundloop/swerve. Contributing factors were the crosswind gust and the soft, sandy terrain.