Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On May 14, 1996, at 1530 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 11A, N1690B, struck a fence post after departing the side of the runway at Calhan, Colorado, during landing roll. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 as a positioning flight and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, at 1500.

According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 35 with the wind from 270 degrees magnetic at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. He said that after touch down, the aircraft began to weather vane and departed the left side of the runway. He attempted to go around but the aircraft was in deep grass and would not accelerate. The aircraft struck a fence post causing damage to the left flap, left stabilizer, left elevator, left main trunion and empennage. After the encounter with the fence, the aircraft again entered the runway area and was taxied to a hangar by the pilot. the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was a gusting cross-wind.