# NTSB CEN19LA169: Cessna 162, N5213Z, Las Animas, CO, May 14, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 14, 2019, 16:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Las Animas, CO - Coordinates: 38.085277, -103.200836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0853&lon=-103.2008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99626/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99626 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA169 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on soft, muddy terrain, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the airplane on his 1,000-ft-long private grass airstrip in light and variable wind conditions when the airplane nosed over upon touchdown, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. Photos provided by law enforcement personnel who responded to the site showed ground scars consistent with the airplane having touched down on soft, muddy terrain and subsequently nosing over. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2019, about 1610 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 162 airplane, N5213Z, nosed over during a landing on a private airstrip near Las Animas, Colorado. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane wings and empennage were substantially damage during the nose over. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the private airstrip at an unknown time. According to a family member, the pilot attempted to land on his grass airstrip. The airplane's nose wheel got caught on soggy river grass, and the airplane nosed over. No other property was damaged. The pilot sustained serious injuries following the accident. The pilot passed away beyond 30 days of the accident. However, the family member added that the pilot was battling health issues before the accident, and she felt the pilot's death was not due to the accident. At 1753, the recorded weather at the La Junta Municipal Airport, near La Junta, Colorado, was: Wind variable at 3 kts; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 30° C; dew point -3° C; altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. According to measurements taken from Google Earth images, the runway was about 1,000 ft long and had about a 143° landing heading. According to images supplied by the Bent County Sheriff's Office, there was tall grass around the accident site and a linear ground scar was present consistent with nose landing gear contact with soft terrain. The pilot of N5213Z had a prior accident at his airstrip. On January 30, 2016, about 1100 mountain standard time, an American Legend Aircraft Co. AL11C 100 tailwheel airplane, N24184, nosed over during a landing there. According to the safety report on that accident, the pilot made an approach to his private sod airstrip after observing rain showers in days previous. The pilot reported that as the main wheels made contact with the soft surface the airplane immediately nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5213Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5213Z-2023-12-26), registration cancelled 2023-12-26, S/N 16200040, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 162 - Registry model: [Cessna 162](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-162) (registry code 060005E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16200040 - Year built: 2011 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-200 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: PVT, Las Animas, CO - Destination: PVT, Las Animas, CO - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 14, 1,000 × 20 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 91; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 22,580 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KLHX, 15 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 20190514004429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190514004429A), May 14, 2019: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Las Animas, CO, Minor damage. Pilot attempted landing on his own property and lost control of aircraft during soft field landing attempt. Ground was soft and nose wheel dug in and aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99626. 2.7 MB in all. - Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary - Pilot's Daughter (item 1, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Communication%20Summary%20-%20Pilot%27s%20Daughter-Master.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area - Runway About 143°, 1000 ft (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area%20-%20Runway%20About%20143%C2%B0,%201000%20ft-Master.PDF - Photos - Supplied by the Bent County Sheriff's Office (item 3, .PDF, 5 photos, 745 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20-%20Supplied%20by%20the%20Bent%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office-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.