# NTSB CEN14CA166: Skykits Savannah VGW, N508TG, Hudson, CO, March 19, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 19, 2014, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Hudson, CO
- Coordinates: 40.102779, -104.70111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1028&lon=-104.7011&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88940
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88940/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88940
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA166

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate monitoring of his glide path resulting in a collision with a berm prior to landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VGW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=069001D), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VGW, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=069001D), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wall/barricade](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VGW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md?model=069001D), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VGW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=069001D), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was practicing short field stop-and-go landings. On one approach to the turf strip, the airplane was too low and the main landing gear contacted a berm short of the landing strip. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no prior mechanical malfunctions or failures, but that a gusty wind may have resulted in a downdraft.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was practicing short field stop-and-go landings. On one approach to the turf strip, the airplane was too low and the main landing gear contacted a berm short of the landing strip. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no prior mechanical malfunctions or failures, but that a gusty wind may have resulted in a downdraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N508TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N508TG-2018-02-14), registration cancelled 2018-02-14, S/N 08-11-51-789, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKYKITS CORP SAVANNAH VGW
- Registry model: [Skykits SAVANNAH VGW](https://openairdocs.org/model/skykits-savannah-vgw) (registry code 069001D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 08-11-51-789
- Year built: 2010
- Airframe hours: 570
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 1, 2013, 30 hours before
- Departed: 18V, Hudson, CO
- Destination: 18V, Hudson, CO
- Airport: 18V, Platte Valley Airpark, runway 27, 2,500 × 90 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,000 total, 570 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KDEN, 16 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).

- [Incident 20140319003079I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140319003079I), Mar 19, 2014: Skykits Corp SAVANNAH VGW, Brighton, CO, Minor damage. Aircraft N508TG made final approach into Platte Valley airfield struck a burm approximately 10 feet before the runway. Aircraft impact ground.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88940. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Garrett (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Garrett-Master.PDF
- Photo - Accident Overview (photo provided by pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 608 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Accident%20Overview%20(photo%20provided%20by%20pilot)-Master.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.

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