# NTSB CEN17LA301: Beech D17S, N44562, Colorado Springs, CO, August 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2017, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.802776, -104.715553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8028&lon=-104.7156&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95744 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95744/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95744 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA301 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1150538), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech D17S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane in right quartering tailwind conditions. After touchdown, with the tailwheel on the runway, the airplane drifted to the right and the pilot applied left brake. The right landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped and came to rest upright near the right edge of the runway. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and that, "it got away from me, I guess." ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2017, about 1130 mountain daylight time, a Beech D17S airplane, N44562, ground looped during landing at City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The pilot and one passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP), Gallup, New Mexico, about 0900. The pilot stated during landing the right quartering tailwind was 10 to 13 mph. He made a normal landing with a lot of left rudder application to keep the airplane straight. After touchdown, with the tailwheel on the runway, the airplane drifted to the right and he applied left brake. The right landing gear collapsed and the airplane continued to the right edge of the runway where it came to rest upright. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that "it got away from me, I guess." The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane landed on runway 35L and ground looped during the landing roll. The right main landing gear collapsed (figure 1), the lower right wing struck the ground. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the landing gear. Figure 1 – Accident airplane on the edge of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44562](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44562), registered now, S/N 6923, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D17S - Registry model: [Beech D17S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d17s) (registry code 1150538) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6923 - Year built: 1944 - Airframe hours: 3264 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN-6 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2017 - Departed: GUP, GALLUP, NM - Destination: COS, Colorado Springs, CO - Airport: COS, City Of Colorado Springs Muni, runway 35L, 11,022 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 19,485 total, 304 in this make and model, 17,923 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KCOS, 1 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 20170803015729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170803015729A), Aug 3, 2017: Beech D17S, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. On August 3, 2017, at approximately 1110 hours (MST), N44562, a Beechcraft D17S staggerwing sustained major damage during landing rollout at Colorado Springs… ## Other investigations on N44562 (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 WPR12CA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA016), Oct 18, 2011: Beech D17S (N44562), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95744. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455696&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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. --- 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.