# NTSB DEN02LA091: Boeing D75N1, N64796, Watkins, CO, August 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 2002, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.786666, -104.54972 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7867&lon=-104.5497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 55464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55464/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA091 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - improper, dual student (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The instructor said they entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 17 (8,000 feet x 100 feet, dry asphalt), touched down "slightly tail high and bounced slightly (maybe 6 inches). The student allowed the air[plane] to turn right and bank left during the bounce. As the air[plane] touched down the second time, it swerved hard right and began to ground loop. Full left rudder and brake did not arrest the turn. The air[plane] departed the runway to the right, dragged the left wingtip (lower), turned left, dragged the right lower wing, went up on the nose, and came to rest on the propeller dome and the main gear." Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the lower left wing spar, right lower wing, and upper right wing tip. The left main gear was also damaged extensively. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2002, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Boeing D75N1, N64796, was substantially damaged when the pilot lost control during a touch and go landing at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado. The airline transport pilot and his passenger received no injuries. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, at 0900, and was landing at its destination when the accident occurred. The instructor was in the front seat and the airplane owner who was receiving instruction was in the rear seat. The instructor said they entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 17 (8,000 feet x 100 feet, dry asphalt). The airplane touched down "slightly tail high and bounced slightly (maybe 6 inches). The student allowed the air[plane] to turn right and bank left during the bounce. As the air[plane] touched down the second time, it swerved hard right and began to ground loop. Full left rudder and brake did not arrest the turn. The air[plane] departed the runway to the right, dragged the left wingtip (lower), turned left, dragged the right lower wing, went up on the nose, and came to rest on the propeller dome and the main gear." An oral statement made by the pilot-owner shortly after the accident corroborated the instructor's written statement. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the lower left wing spar, right lower wing, and upper right wing tip. The left main gear was also damaged extensively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64796](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64796), registered now, S/N 75-1602 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing D75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing D75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-d75n1) (registry code 1380148) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-1602 - Airframe hours: 6993 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: EMB Properties Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 2002, 5 hours before - Departed: APA, Englewood, CO - Destination: FTG, Watkins, CO - Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 17, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 25, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 17,728 total, 150 in this make and model, 16,826 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 27, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,323 total, 35 in this make and model, 2,275 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: Den, 10 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 20020813023379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020813023379A), Aug 13, 2002: Boeing D75N1, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed apa and flew to Front Range Airport for training. The owner was in the rear seat and the instructor (chris basore) was in the Front… ## Other investigations on N64796 (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN00LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA172), Sep 20, 2000: Boeing Stearman D75N1 (N64796), Englewood, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight instructor not maintaining supervision. Contributing factors were the student's hard landing due to excessive flare and subsequent inadvertent stall, and the student's failure to maintain… 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.