Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 10, 1996, at 1047 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-4-210C, N9862M, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Hudson, Colorado. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated approximately 0950.

The following is based on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, and a telephone conversation with the pilot. The pilot said he had originally planned to land on runway 33, but when he saw four airplanes taxiing to runway 15 for takeoff, he elected to land on runway 9. He said the winds were light and variable. He selected one notch of flaps (15 degrees) and when he flared for landing, the airplane "floated." Because of the short runway, he decided to make a go around but, by his own admission, waited too long before taking corrective action. As the airplane climbed over power lines near the end of the runway, it stalled, the left wing dropped, and the airplane collided with terrain. the pilot's delay in initiating a go-around and failure to attain sufficient airspeed to clear obstructions at the departure end of the runway, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing, and the high obstruction (power lines).