# NTSB DEN01LA101: Garrett Starduster TOO SA300, N555CW, Woodrow, CO, May 21, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2001, 18:00 local (May 21, 2001, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Woodrow, CO - Coordinates: 39.980033, -103.580574 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9800&lon=-103.5806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 52315 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52315/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA101 ## Probable cause a precautionary landing on unsuitable terrain which was rough and uneven. Factors were deteriorating weather in the form of freezing rain, snow, and decreasing visibility. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - freezing rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command - weather forecast - information insufficient, faa(airways facility personnel) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis While on a cross-country flight, which had been preceded by a full weather brief by a flight service station, the non-instrument rated pilot flying a non-instrument certificated aircraft encountered rapidly deteriorating weather conditions in the form of freezing rain, snow, and deteriorating visibility. She elected to make a precautionary landing in an open field. The field was rough and uneven, and the aircraft nosed over during landing roll. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2001, at 1800 mountain daylight time, a Garrett Starduster Too SA300, N555CW, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing near Woodrow, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions were deteriorating and no flight plan was filed for this personal cross-country flight from Saint Francis, Kansas, to Watkins, Colorado. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91and departed Saint Francis at 1715. According to the pilot, she received a weather briefing from Columbus Radio (Columbus Flight Service Station) prior to departure and at that time was apprised of the winds, but precipitation was not mentioned. When in the vicinity of Woodrow, the visibility deteriorated rapidly due to snow, and ice began to form on the wind screen. The pilot said she chose to make a precautionary landing in a field due to icing and instrument conditions. The field was rough and uneven, and the aircraft nosed over which resulted in damage to the right upper wing, propeller, main landing gear, tail wheel, rudder, and longeron. The pilot was not instrument rated, the aircraft was not instrument certified, and had no de-icing or anti-icing equipment installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555CW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555CW), registered now, S/N 1172, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GARRETT STARDUSTER TOO SA300 - Registry model: [Garrett STARDUSTER TOO SA300](https://openairdocs.org/model/garrett-starduster-too-sa300) (registry code 8660206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1172 - Airframe hours: 678 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Christine A. Wolff - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: SYF, SAINT FRANCIS, KS - Destination: FTG, WATKINS, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 16, 2000; seat: rear; flight hours: 675 total, 500 in this make and model, 612 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 32 knots, gusting 39 - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: AKO, 60 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 20010520011239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010520011239A), May 20, 2001: Woodrow, CO, No damage. (-23)On may 20, at 1800 MDT, a Garrett starduster too SA300,N555CW substained substantial damage during a precautionary landing near Woodrow, Colorado. The… 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.