# NTSB CEN12LA126: Aviat A1, N127AK, Somerset, CO, January 6, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 2012, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Somerset, CO - Coordinates: 38.935001, -107.467781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9350&lon=-107.4678&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82648 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82648/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82648 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate takeoff planning/preparation, which resulted in the airplane impacting a snow drift during the takeoff roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot attempted a takeoff on a snow-covered runway that he had landed on earlier in the day. The snow was about 6 inches deep. During the takeoff roll, the airplane struck a snow drift and nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 2012, about 1600 mountain standard time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, N127AK, nosed over when it struck a snow drift during takeoff roll on a snow covered runway at Abbott Ranch Private Airstrip near Somerset, Colorado. The certificated commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to Plane Living LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight destined for Montrose Regional Airport, Montrose, Colorado. The pilot stated that he departed Montrose Regional Airport, Montrose, Colorado, about 1330, en route to Abbott Ranch Private Airstrip to check on his cabin. He said that when he landed, the runway was covered with about 6 inches of snow. The pilot stated that at the time of departure he was attempting a maximum performance takeoff on runway 03 (1,600 feet by 75 feet, snow covered turf). The direction of takeoff was uphill. He felt the tailwheel digging into the snow on the runway shortly after the takeoff roll began. About 300 feet down the runway, the tail lifted and the main landing gear wheels struck a one foot high snow drift. The airplane then nosed over. The pilot stated in his postaccident recommendation that the accident might have been prevented by packing down the snow on the runway using a snowcat or other equipment. The airplane was equipped with Alaska Bush 29 inch tires. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N127AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N127AK), registered now, S/N 2059 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT A1 (B) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2059 - Airframe hours: 527 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360AIP 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Plane Living LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2011 - Departed: PVT, Somerset, CO - Destination: MTJ, Montrose, CO - Airport: PVT, Abbott Ranch Private Airstrip, runway 03, 1,300 × 75 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 6, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 3,463 total, 236 in this make and model, 3,277 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: ASE, 64 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 20120106000159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120106000159A), Jan 6, 2012: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Somerset, CO, Substantial damage. On 1/6/2012, at 1600HRS MDT, N127AK, husky(Aviat A1B), struck snow drift on take off from an unimproved air strip two miles north of sumerset, CO, and flipped… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82648. 699 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 699 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.