Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On December 27, 1997, at 1451 mountain standard time, a Beech 35-B33, N5743K, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a snow berm while landing at Englewood, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Fort Worth, Texas, at 1115 central standard time, and made an en route stop at Wichita Falls, Texas.

According to the pilot, the prevailing wind favored landing on runway 28. The runway, however, was closed due to a previous incident and the airplane was blocking the runway. The pilot accepted runway 35R for landing. He said control tower personnel told him the wind was from 290 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 28 knots. As the pilot aligned the airplane with the runway, he noticed "snow fingers" across the runway so he planned his touchdown between the centerline and the right side of the runway. The airplane touched down and the crosswind caused the airplane to drift right. The airplane struck a snow berm on the right side of the runway, causing it to spin around.

According to the Beech Aircraft Corporation, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the Beech 35-B33 is 17 knots. Plotting the reported wind on the wind component chart, it was determined that a 60 degree crosswind at 20 knots would produce a crosswind component of about 17 knots and a headwind component about 10 knots. Gusts of 28 knots would produce a crosswind component of about 24 knots and a headwind component of 14 knots.

There was substantial damage to the right wing. Additionally, the landing gear collapsed and the engine was torn loose from its mounts. The pilot's improper decision to land in wind conditions that exceeded the airplane's crosswind component, and his failure to divert to an alternate airport with runways more nearly aligned with the wind. Factors were the icy runway and crosswind.