Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On September 26, 2004, at 1137 mountain daylight time, a Ted Smith Aerostar 601P, N200FF, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Denver-Jefferson County Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a visual flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 1050.

The pilot said he was asked by the BJC tower to make a short approach. He was then asked to make his right base turn, such that he had to continue his turn to roll out on final over the runway. The pilot said he leveled the wings and had a hard landing. The pilot said that the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid off the left side of runway 29R.

An examination of the airplane showed the left main landing gear strut was broken and pushed upward through the top of the left wing engine nacelle. The right wing was broken upward at the wing root. Both propellers' blades showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No other anomalies were found. the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision to accept a short traffic pattern and the improper flare resulting in a hard landing.