# Accident 20040903022999A: Piper PA20, Steamboatspring, CO, September 3, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 2004, 09:45 local time
- Place: Steamboatspring, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8250° N, 107.2333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8250&lon=-107.2333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7030K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7030K-2013-08-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-20 (registry code 7102002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 162 total, 51 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040903022999A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT'S SOLO TAKEOFF WAS FROM A GRASS LANDING STRIP ON THE ELK HEAD RANCH, 20 MILES NORTH OF HAYDEN, COLORADO, AT APPROXIMATELY 0920 ON SEPT. 3, 2004. THERE WAS NO WEATHER REPORTED IN THE AREA EXCEPT FOR OCCASIONAL GUSTY WINDS. THE FLIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES IN DURATION TO DETERMINE CATTLE LOCATION ON THE RANCH. THE FIRST WESTERLY APPROACH RESULTED IN A GO-AROUND DUE TO GUSTING CROSSWINDS ON THE RANCH'S GRASS EAST-WEST STRIP. ANOTHER ATTEMPT FOR A WEST-EAST APPROACH WAS ALSO ABORTED DUE TO GUSTING CROSSWINDS. THE FINAL APPROACH WAS AN EAST-WEST APPROACH. UPON LANDING ROLL OUT, A STRONG SE GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRCRAFT AND LIFTED IT AIRBORNE. THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TIME TO POWER UP FOR A GO-AROUND, SO THE AIRCRAFT WAS PUT ON THE GROUND AND THE CRAFT WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHERE A DEEP DITCH WAS LOCATED. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO AVOID A TREE LINE. THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A BURROW AND FLIPPED OVER ON ITS TOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ONE PROP WAS BENT, THE ENGINE WAS PRESSED TO THE FIREWALL AND BOTH WINGS AND THE TAIL SECTION HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN04LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA133), Sep 3, 2004: Piper PA-20 (N7030K), Hayden, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing factors include the excessive crosswind component, and the gusty wind conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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