# NTSB DEN03LA042: Beech C23, N6555R, Pagosa Springs, CO, February 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2003, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Pagosa Springs, CO - Coordinates: 37.2775, -107.055831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2775&lon=-107.0558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56463 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56463/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56463 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA042 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. Contributing factors were the student pilot's improper flare, the instructor's inadequate remedial actions, and terrain conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - throttle/power control - reduced, pilot in command(cfi) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - premature, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis After the airplane took off and climbed about 60 feet, the instructor simulated a power loss by reducing the power to idle. The student made a "hard landing" and the airplane began drifting to the left. The instructor assumed control of the airplane but was unable to realign it with the runway. The airplane went off the left side of the runway and the left wheel broke off. It crossed a small ditch, shearing off the landing gear. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2003, approximately 1145 mountain standard time, a Beech C23, N6555R, registered to and operated by the flight instructor, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following a hard landing at Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Pagosa Springs approximately 0930. According to the flight instructor, after practicing stalls, steep turns, and simulated engine failures, they flew to Durango, Colorado, landed and refueled. They departed and returned to Pagosa Springs to practice traffic pattern emergencies. Runway 19 was the active runway. To simulate a power loss, the instructor reduced power to idle when the airplane was on the downwind leg, and the student pilot landed without incident. After practicing several other emergencies, they took off again. When the airplane had climbed about 60 feet, the instructor reduced power to idle to simulated a power loss on takeoff. The student made a "hard landing" and the airplane began drifting to the left. The instructor assumed control of the airplane but was unable to realign it with the runway. The airplane went off the left side of the runway and the left wheel broke off. It crossed a small ditch, sheared off the landing gear. The airplane collapsed, damaged both flaps, buckled the firewall, and bent the right rear horizontal stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6555R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6555R-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N M-1592, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1592 - Airframe hours: 3933 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brad L. Handy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2002, 100 hours before - Departed: 2V1, Pagosa Springs, CO - Destination: 2V1, Pagosa Springs, CO - Airport: 2V1, Stevens Field, runway 19, 8,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 23, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 547 total, 89 in this make and model, 503 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg ## 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 20030208002249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030208002249A), Feb 8, 2003: Beech C23, Pagosa Springs, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Student and instructor pilot onboard, departed pgs flew to durango, departed durango flew to pgs entered traffic pattern for practicing emergency… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56463. 552 KB in all. - Supplement E (item 1, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181140&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20E-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 423 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.