# NTSB DEN03LA058: Aviat A-1B, N60HY, Englewood, CO, March 15, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 2003, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.403331, -104.849166
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4033&lon=-104.8492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56700/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA058

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop.  A contributing factor was the gusty winds.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway

## Analysis

The student pilot made a crosswind landing on runway 35L and "encountered a gusty wind" on landing roll. He lost directional control of the airplane and it ground looped to the left. The right wing spar and right aileron were bent.  In addition, the right main landing gear collapsed and the fuselage was buckled. The wind was 040 degrees at 7 knots, variable between 010 degrees and 070 degrees.

## Factual narrative

On March 15, 2003, approximately 1140 mountain standard time, an Aviat A-1B, N60HY, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing roll at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The student pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was 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 Englewood approximately 1100.

The following is based in the pilot's accident report and corroborated by an FAA inspector. The pilot made a crosswind landing on runway 35L and "encountered a gusty wind" on landing roll. He said he lost directional control of the airplane and it ground looped to the left. The right wing spar and right aileron were bent. In addition, the right main landing gear collapsed and the fuselage was buckled.

The recorded wind at 1153 was from 040 degrees at 7 knots, variable between 010 degrees and 070 degrees.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60HY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60HY), registered now, S/N 2186, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aviat A-1B
- Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2186
- Airframe hours: 84
- Engines: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Daniel Verdoorn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2003, 6 hours before
- Departed: APA, Englewood, CO
- Destination: APA, Englewood, CO
- Airport: APA, Centennial Airport, runway 35L, 7,400 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 37; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 83 total, 83 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 7 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: APA

## 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 20030315003619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030315003619A), Mar 15, 2003: Aviat A1B, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) M. steven ells, a student pilot, apparently lost control of the aircraft on landing and ground looped.

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.

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