Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On September 23, 1994, at 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182F, N3540U, was substantially damaged during landing at the Monte Vista Municipal Airport, Colorado. The airplane, flown by a commercial pilot, was on a local personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. One passenger received minor injuries, while the pilot and the other two passengers were not injured.

Runway 02 at Monte Vista was being resurfaced and a temporary dirt strip had been built right next to and parallel to it. According to the airplane owner who was in the left front seat, the pilot landed with a 15 knot tail wind. The pilot had difficulty controlling the aircraft during landing roll due to the fast ground speed and the soft rough nature of the runway. The nose gear contacted the soft ground and was torn off; subsequently the aircraft nosed over to the inverted position.

The pilot stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that while flying over the field in preparation for landing, the wind sock was "limp". He further stated that his landing touch down was "too fast" and he encountered a wind shear on the soft dirt runway causing him to have control difficulties and subsequently damaging the aircraft. Wind at the nearest reporting station, 11 miles west-northwest, was from 350 degrees at 12 knots. pilot reported wind was variable at 10 knots. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL. FACTORS WERE THE CROSS WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S POOR EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER.