Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On September 6, 2004, at approximately 1530 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180, N727DG, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during the landing roll at Central Colorado Regional Airport, Buena Vista, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his two passengers reported no injuries. The cross-country flight had originated at Leadville, Colorado, at 1500.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was landing on runway 33 when the airplane encountered a "dust devil." Subsequently, the airplane ground looped, coming to rest on the right side of the runway. The left wing and the left horizontal stabilizer were bent. A postaccident examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

Winds at Leadville, Colorado, 25 nautical miles northwest of Buena Vista, were reported as 320 at 11 knots with gusts to 14 knots. The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the gusty winds and the dirt devil encountered by the aircraft.