# NTSB CEN19TA330: Cirrus SR22, N983WP, Glenwood Springs, CO, August 25, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: August 25, 2019, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Glenwood Springs, CO - Coordinates: 39.506668, -107.309448 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5067&lon=-107.3094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19TA330 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100311/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100311 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19TA330 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing with a tail wind, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing.. ## 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: [Cirrus Design SR22, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 94 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following a cross-country flight, the pilot overflew the area to familiarize himself with the destination airport and elected to land to the south. The weather was clear, and the automated weather observing system reported the winds were calm. The pilot flew the final approach with an airspeed "in the mid 70s" and configured the airplane with full flaps. During the landing flare, the airplane developed an uncontrollable sink rate and landed hard, collapsing the nosewheel and resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane likely encountered a tailwind during landing, causing the airplane to stall. The nearest weather reporting facilities recorded gusty wind conditions from variable directions about the time of the accident. It is likely that the airplane encountered an unexpected tailwind during landing, and the pilot's lost airplane control, resulting in a stall. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2019, about 1250 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus SR-22 airplane, N983WP, experienced a hard landing at the Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport (GWS), Glenwood Spring, Colorado. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to CBGNC Aviation LLC and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed about the time of the accident, and the flight was operating utilizing visual flight rules (VFR) flight following at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Russel Municipal Airport (RSL), Russell, Kansas, and was destined for GWS. The pilot overflew GWS to familiarize himself with the area and elected to land to the south. He stated the weather was clear and the automated weather observing system (AWOS) reported the winds were calm. The pilot further reported the temperature was 84° F and the altimeter setting was 29.84 in. Hg. The pilot "flew the final approach in the mid 70's (airspeed) and full flaps." During the flare "the bottom fell out" and the airplane landed hard on the main landing gear and then the nosewheel, which subsequently collapsed. An examination of the airplane noted the composite firewall was damaged, substantially damaging the airplane. In addition, the trailing edge of the right leg fairings were split apart and both wheel pants exhibited upward crush damage. The pilot later stated that although the AWOS reported calm winds, historical data indicated the winds in the general area were shifting between north and northwest at 7-12 kts. He stated it was possible "I picked up enough of a tailwind to bring me from above to below stall speed." He also stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane at the time of the accident. At 1256 wind at Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), 23 miles northeast of GWS, was from the west-southwest at 18 miles per hour (mph), gusting to 28 mph. Temperature was 87° F and dewpoint was 37° F. At 1253 wind at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE), 31 miles southeast of GWS, was reported as variable at 7 mph, gusting to 22 mph. Temperature was 81° F and dewpoint was 35° F. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N983WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N983WP), registered now, S/N 1671, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cirrus SR22 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1671 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 3806.5 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cbgnc Aviation Llc - Registered owner: Cbgnc Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2019, 40 hours before - Departed: RSL, Russell, KS - Destination: GWS, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: GWS, Glenwood Springs Muni, runway 14, 3,305 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 7, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 760 total, 155 in this make and model, 560 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KGWS ## 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 20190825023499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190825023499A), Aug 25, 2019: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Glenwood Spring, CO, Substantial damage. N983WP, experienced a collapsed nosegear during landing at Glenwood springs municipal airport (gws), Colorado. The private pilot and two passengers were not… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100311. 4.1 MB in all. - Weather Reports and Records (item 1, .PDF, 684 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 978 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Weight and Balance (item 4, .PDF, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477456&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance-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.