# NTSB DEN01LA054: Piper PA-32-300, N3051U, Angel Fire, NM, February 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2001, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Angel Fire, NM - Coordinates: 36.389068, -105.269157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3891&lon=-105.2692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 51806 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51806/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA054 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. Contributing factors were the crosswind, the pilot exceeding the published maximum demonstrated crosswind component, and the snow bank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - crosswind component - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis As the airplane approached runway 35, the pilot applied "full cross control" for the crosswind that the airport reported to be from 260 degrees at 20 knots and gusting. Wind gusts were reportedly between 24 and 30 knots. When the airplane touched down 4,500 feet past the threshold, "a strong gust of wind" pushed the airplane to the right side of the runway and the pilot aborted the landing. During the abort, the nose landing gear was damaged when it struck a 24-inch high snow bank at the 5,900-foot mark. Witnesses said the airplane nearly "cartwheeled." The pilot turned the airplane around and landed on runway 17. The airplane touched down at the 6,150-foot mark and skidded on its nose to a halt at the 7,100-foot mark (8,900 foot runway). The airplane's demonstrated crosswind component is 17 knots. The computed crosswind component was 90 degrees at 20 knots, 24 knots, or 30 knots, depending on the reported wind velocity used. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2001, approximately 1600 mountain standard time, N3051U, a Piper PA-32-300, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Angel Fire, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Colorado Springs, Colorado, approximately 1430. According to the pilot's accident report, he made an approach to runway 35 and applied "full cross control" for the crosswind that the airport reported to be from 260 degrees at 20 knots and gusting. As the airplane touched down, "a strong gust of wind" pushed the airplane to the right side of the runway and the pilot aborted the landing. During the abort, the nose landing gear struck a 24-inch high snow bank. The pilot turned around and landed on runway 17. When the airplane touched down, the nose landing gear folded and the airplane skidded to a halt. According to the FAA inspector's report, the airplane touched down 4,500 feet past the runway 35 threshold (8,900 feet x 100 feet, asphalt), encountered a gust of wind, and drifted to the right. It struck a snow bank at the 5,900-foot mark. The pilot aborted the landing and made a teardrop turn back to runway 17. The airplane touched down 2,750 feet from the end of runway 35 and skidded to a halt 1,800 feet from the end of the runway (see airport diagram). The nosewheel was bent aft and the firewall was buckled. Employees at the airport witnessed the accident. One employee said the wind had been gusting between 24 and 30 knots. The pilot "overflew 2/3 of runway on first approach and attempted to land, drifting to the east of the runway, nearly cartwheeling," wrote one employee. He advised the pilot via radio that his nose landing gear had been damaged but there was no response." According to the Piper PA-32-300 Pilot's Operating Handbook (p. 2-7), the demonstrated crosswind component, which is placarded on the instrument panel "in full view of the pilot," is 17 knots. The angular difference between the runway headings (350 degrees and 170 degrees) and the reported wind direction (260 degrees) is 090 degrees. According to the Crosswind/Headwind Component Chart, this would result in a direct 90 degree left crosswind (when landing on runway 35) and a direct 90 degree right crosswind (when landing on runway 17). The crosswind component would be 20 knots, 24 knots, or 30 knots, depending on the reported wind velocity and gusts. Recorded winds at Taos, New Mexico (the nearest weather reporting station), located 23 n.m. west of Angel Fire, were similar to those reported at Angel Fire: 260 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 21 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3051U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3051U), registered now, S/N 32-7940063, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7940063 - Airframe hours: 3600 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William G. Pierson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2000, 160 hours before - Departed: COS, Colo. Springs, CO - Destination: AXX, Angel Fire, NM - Airport: AXX, Angel Fire, runway 35, 8,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 15, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 319 total, 253 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 18 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SKX, 25 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 20010218003439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010218003439A), Feb 18, 2001: Piper PA32300, Angel Fire, NM, Substantial damage. (.19)On February 18, 2001, approx. 1440 MST, N3051U, a Piper PA-32-300, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with… 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.