Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On April 8, 2005, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182M, N92112, piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway during the landing flare at Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ), Cortez, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being operated on a visual flight rules flight plan, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and his three passengers reported no injuries. The cross-country flight departed Scottsdale, Arizona, approximately 0810.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he encountered windshear during the landing flare to runway 21. The pilot reported that he added power as he descended; however, the airplane continued to descend "rapidly." The airplane impacted the runway, bounced several times, and departed the runway to the right. During the impact, the nose landing gear assembly collapsed and the propeller struck the runway. Further examination revealed that the firewall was wrinkled. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.

According to the CEZ METAR (routine aviation weather report) the winds at the time of the accident were reported as 170 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The crosswind component calculated for the time of the accident ranged from 12 to 16 knots. the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare. Contributing factors include the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision making, the crosswind and the gusty surface winds.