Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On November 30, 1993, at approximately 1400 mountain standard time, N6613N, a Cessna A185F, was substantially damaged during landing at a private airstrip, located about 33 miles west of Maybell, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the business flight.

The following is based on information provided by the pilot in his Pilot/Operator report. During the initial part of the approach, the air was turbulent and as the aircraft was flared for landing, it encountered "rough air...almost like wind shear." He was able to maintain control and the airplane touched down on the runway. After a short landing roll, the airplane nosed over.

After the accident, the pilot discovered the runway was covered with seven to eight inches of "very wet, heavy, and crusty" snow. He wrote, "I figure the heavy snow was the main factor in causing the plane to flip over." THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASCERTAIN THE CONDITION OF THE LANDING AREA. THE SNOW COVERED CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR.