Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 17, 2005, at 1430 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-135, N7172K, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a go-around at the Flying W. Ranch Airport (KCO20), Cedaredge, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Vernal, Utah, at 1300 MDT.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 35 and had overflown the runway to establish the wind direction. During the landing flare, the wind shifted from a headwind to a tailwind. The pilot stated that this shift in wind direction resulted in a 15-20 knot tailwind and an increased groundspeed. He attempted a go-around procedure and during a turn to avoid trees the airplane stalled and fell "about 15 feet onto a fence and rocks." The fuselage and firewall were both wrinkled, both wing struts bent, and the landing gear torn aft. The pilot reported no anomalies with any of the airplane systems. A further examination of the airplane systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

The Flying W. Ranch Airport (KCO20) is a private airstrip, owned by the pilot. According to airnav.com, runway 35 is 2,400 feet in length and 50 feet in width, uphill and used only for landing.

At 1430 MDT, the Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) routine aviation weather report (METAR), which is located 22 NM south of the Flying W. Ranch Airport, issued a special report with the winds reported variable at 6 knots. Thunderstorms were in the vicinity of MTJ at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the wind was 160 at 12 knots with gusts of 18 knots and there was light turbulence at the time of the accident. The pilot stated there was typical summer afternoon convection in the area but no active cells. the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning. Contributing to the accident was the wind shift, resultant tailwind, and the inadvertent stall.