# NTSB CEN20CA151: Eagle Eagle DW 1, N8810T, Hudson, CO, April 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 18, 2020, 12:45 local (18:45 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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101180 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101180/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101180 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had completed a banner tow flight and had dropped the banner at its designated location. He subsequently entered the traffic pattern and approached to land with a right crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane weather-vaned, exited the right side of the runway, and entered soft grass. The airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the left upper wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped biplane had completed a banner tow flight and had dropped the banner at its designated location. He subsequently entered the traffic pattern and approached to land with a right crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane weathervaned, exited the right side of the runway and entered the soft grass surface that bordered the runway. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the left upper wing, the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. The pilot reported no preaccident anomalies with the airplane that could have contributed to the accident. The pilot reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 360° at 8 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8810T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8810T), registered now, S/N DW-1-0064-82, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eagle EAGLE DW 1 (No Series) - Registry model: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/eagle-eagle-dw-1) (registry code 3230203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-M1B5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-m1b5d) (registry code 41785, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DW-1-0064-82 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 4856 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-M1B5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 2019 - Departed: 18V, Hudson, CO - Destination: 18V, Hudson, CO - Airport: 18V, Platte Valley Airpark, runway 33, 4,100 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,151 total, 81.9 in this make and model, 1,032 as pilot in command, 39.5 in the last 90 days, 5.4 in the last 30 days, 5.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F - 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). - [Accident 20200418000689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200418000689A), Apr 18, 2020: Eagle Aircraft Co EAGLE DW-1, Hudson, CO, Substantial damage. This flight was a banner tow operation, returning to 18V. Pilot dropped the banner on the drop zone adjacent to runway 09 and then entered the left traffic… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101180. 4.4 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=40483282&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.