Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 11, 1999, approximately 1150 mountain daylight time, a Moore Q-200, N321TM, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Cortez, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Tucumcari, New Mexico, approximately 0945.

The pilot said the flight to Cortez was uneventful and as he approached the airport, he was advised that the wind was from the south approximately 5 to 10 mph, and that the runway was wet as the result of a recent rain shower. The pilot said he entered the traffic pattern and carried power throughout the approach to runway 21. When the airplane was flared and power reduced for landing, the nose dropped onto the runway. The airplane bounced and skewed 30 degrees to the left. The pilot added full power but the airplane did not appear to gain altitude or airspeed. Because of tall vegetation ahead, the pilot decided to land. He reduced power and landed on the grass, then straightened the airplane to parallel the runway. The airplane rolled into a muddy area and nosed down.

Besides a broken propeller, damage was confined to the tailcone that broke approximately 12 inches forward of the vertical stabilizer. The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain directional control. Related factors were the soft wet terrain.