# NTSB CEN09CA505: Fairchild PT-19A, N54804, Colorado Springs, CO, August 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2009, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.940555, -104.568611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9406&lon=-104.5686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA505 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74480/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74480 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA505 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall during a high-density altitude takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane departed Runway 33 (6,000 feet by 60 feet, asphalt, with a slight upslope). Witnesses reported that the airplane "never got more than about 50 feet in the air". The airplane then impacted terrain and came to rest just beyond the departure end of the runway. Fuel was present at the site and the airplane's engine and right wing had been torn from the fuselage during the accident, resulting in substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site stated that the airplane's wooden propeller was in "splinters" and that there "didn’t appear to be any control problems". The density altitude was calculated to be 9,590 feet. The pilot failed to submit the requested NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report. ## Factual narrative The airplane departed runway 33 (6,000 feet by 60 feet, asphalt, with a slight up-slope). Witnesses reported that the airplane "never got more than about 50 feet in the air". The airplane then impacted terrain and came to rest just beyond the departure end of the runway. Fuel was present at the site, the airplane's engine and right wing had been torn from the fuselage during the accident, resulting in substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated that the airplane's wooden propeller was in "splinters" and that there "didn’t appear to be any control problems". The density altitude was calculated to be 9,590 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54804](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54804-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N 6543AE, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD PT-19A - Registry model: [Fairchild PT-19A](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-pt-19a) (registry code 3371608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (registry code 26003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6543AE - Engines: FAIRCHILD 6-440 SERIES 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 00V, Colorado Springs, CO - Destination: 00V, Colorado Springs, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 00V, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 33, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 99 total, 99 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KCOS, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090808015029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090808015029A), Aug 8, 2009: Frchld PT19A, Colorado Sprin, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed runway 33 at 00V, this departure has an uphill grade into gently rising terrain over judge orr rd. aircraft failed to gain altitude.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74480. 173 KB in all. - Weather Reports and Records (item 1, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Correspondence (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.