- Date
- June 24, 2001, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Eagle, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7850HPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-- Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20010624018029A
- Case key
- 52552
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate wind evaluation, and his inadequate planning/decision to land with a tailwind, at a density altitude of 13,418 feet. Contributing factors were the tailwind and the high density altitude weather condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was practicing off runway landings in the tundra at approximately 11,000 feet. He selected a landing area, made a few passes to inspect the site, and decided to land uphill. On short final, he "realized that my sink rate was higher than I was comfortable with, and my groundspeed was too high." He applied full power, but contacted the ground while the airplane was in a crab. Both main landing gear were broken off, and the wings were bent. The pilot said that after he exited the airplane, he noted that he had landed with a 20 knot quartering tailwind. He also stated that the ambient air temperature at the crash site was 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The calculated density altitude was 13,418 feet.
Factual narrative
On June 24, 2001, at approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N7850H, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain near Eagle, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which originated from Boulder Municipal Airport, Boulder, Colorado, at approximately 1030. The pilot did not file a flight plan.
According to the pilot's written statement, he was planning to fly "more or less" direct to Castle Peak (approximately 9 miles northeast of Eagle County Regional Airport) to look for landing sites on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land. He identified a potential landing site at approximately 11,000 feet elevation. He decided he would attempt an approach from the west, uphill. On short final, he "realized that my sink rate was higher than I was comfortable with, and my groundspeed was too high," and he tried to go-around. He applied full power, but was unable to clear the terrain. The airplane was in a 30 degree crab, and the pilot attempted to correct it back to the ground track by adding right rudder. The right main landing gear contacted the ground, and the airplane turned approximately 180 degrees and came to rest in about 100 feet. The landing gear separated from the fuselage, both wings were wrinkled on top, and the cowling was bent.
The pilot said that after he exited the airplane, he observed that he had landed with a 20 knot quartering tailwind. He also stated that the ambient air temperature at the crash site was 60 degrees Fahrenheit; the calculated density altitude was 13,418 feet.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7850H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-750
- Airframe hours
- 3,000
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ralph A. Young
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2001 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- 1V5 · Boulder, CO
- Destination
- 1V5 · Boulder, CO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 21, 2000
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 377 total · 222 in this make and model · 304 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.22 inHg
- Observed at
- KEGE, 8 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.
Other investigations on N7850H · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.