# NTSB DEN02LA054: Cessna TR182, N333AJ, Glenwood Sprngs, CO, June 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2002, 13:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Glenwood Sprngs, CO - Coordinates: 39.540885, -107.329467 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5409&lon=-107.3295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54937/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54937 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA054 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while conducting an aborted landing. Contributing factors were the pilot’s low approach airspeed, and his failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot said he was concerned about the airport's elevation and runway length, so he maintained a low approach speed. As the airplane came over the runway, airspeed started to decay. The pilot said he didn't react quickly enough, and the airplane mushed onto the runway, bounced hard twice, and drifted off the left side of the runway. He decided to abort the landing, so he raised the flaps, enrichened the mixture, and added full throttle. The airplane lifted off but its left wing struck a tree, spinning the airplane around 90 degrees. It slid 200 feet, struck some construction equipment, spun around again, and came to a halt. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2002, approximately 1325 mountain daylight time, a Cessna TR182, N333AJ, operated by Simon Acquisitions LLC of Boulder, Colorado, was substantially damaged when the airplane made a hard landing and struck a tree at Glenwood Springs Airport, Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and his two passengers received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed and activated for the personal flight being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The aircraft departed Longmont, Colorado, at 1125, and its destination was Glenwood Springs, Colorado. According to his accident report, the pilot was concerned about the airport's runway length and elevation so he maintained a low approach speed. As the airplane came over the runway, airspeed started to decay. The pilot said he didn't react quickly enough, and the airplane mushed onto the runway, bounced hard twice, and drifted off the left side of the runway. The pilot decided to abort the landing, so he raised the flaps, enrichened the mixture, and added full throttle. The airplane lifted off but its left wing struck a tree, spinning the airplane around 90 degrees. It slid 200 feet, struck some construction equipment, spun around again, and came to a halt. Witnesses corroborated the pilot's account, saying the airplane touched down hard about 100 feet from the approach end of runway 32, bounced a few times, then swerved left onto the grass. They said the pilot attempted to abort the landing but, in the process, the left wing struck a tree. The airplane slid for about 200 feet before striking some construction equipment. Weather at the time of the accident, recorded by the Eagle County Regional Airport's AWOS (automated weather observation station), located 22 miles east-northeast of Glenwood Springs, was as follows: wind, 280 degrees at 10 knots, gusts to 31 knots; visibility, greater than 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 82 degrees F. (28 degrees C.); dew point, 27 degrees F. (-3 degrees C.); altimeter, 30.17. The airplane's left wing was sheared off and the fuselage was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333AJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333AJ-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N R18201131, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna TR182 - Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18201131 - Airframe hours: 2678 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Simon Acquisitions, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2001, 234 hours before - Departed: 2V2, Longmont, CO - Destination: GWS, Glenwood Sprngs, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GWS, Glenwood Springs Municipal, runway 32, 3,305 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 22, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 582 total, 174 in this make and model, 421 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 269° at 10 knots, gusting 31 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: EGE, 22 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 20020614012729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020614012729A), Jun 14, 2002: Cessna TR182, Glenwood Spring, CO, Substantial damage. (.19) On June 14, 2002, approximately 1325 mountain daylight time, a Cessna TR182, N333AJ, operated by simon acquisitions LLC of boulder, Colorado, was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54937. 436 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40162786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40162788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.