# NTSB DEN03LA129: Davis Zenair Stol 701, N20584, Aurora, CO, July 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2003, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Aurora, CO - Coordinates: 39.683334, -104.535003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6833&lon=-104.5350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57477/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA129 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed and establish a climb resulting in a stall/mush and collision with the ground. Contributing factors were his premature turn onto the downwind leg, and the plowed/furrowed terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - climb - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed (contributing factor) ## Analysis This was to be a pre-purchase test flight. The pilot said he took off and the airplane lifted into ground effect and accelerated. He saw the international airport in the distance and elected to make an early crosswind turn. During the turn, engine noise diminished and the airplane lost altitude (the pilot opined that the engine lost power during the crosswind turn). Too low to maneuver, the pilot made a downwind forced landing in a field. The airplane touched down on its main gear. When the nose wheel settled to the ground, ground furrows sheared it off and the airplane nosed over. The airplane owner witnessed the accident and said the pilot made a premature downwind turn while still in ground effect, and "flew it [the airplane] into the ground." ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2003, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Davis Zenair STOL 701, N20584, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during an emergency landing at the Aurora Air Park, Aurora, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. This was to be a pre-purchase test flight. According to the pilot's accident report, he took off and the airplane lifted into ground effect and accelerated. Denver International Airport was in the distance and he elected to make an early crosswind turn to avoid entering its airspace. During the turn, engine noise diminished and the airplane began losing altitude (the pilot opined that the engine lost power during the crosswind turn). Too low to maneuver, the pilot made a downwind forced landing in a field. The airplane touched down on its main gear. When the nose wheel settled to the ground, ground furrows sheared it off and the airplane nosed over, crushing the vertical stabilizer. The airplane owner witnessed the accident and said the pilot made a premature downwind turn while still in ground effect, and "flew it [the airplane] into the ground." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20584](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20584-2013-08-22), registration cancelled 2013-08-22, S/N 1417 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Davis Zenair STOL 701 - Registry model: [Davis Guy ZENAIR STOL 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-guy-zenair-stol-701) (registry code 05624FK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1417 - Engines: Suzuki 993cm reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Guy W. Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 2002 - Departed: 01V, Aurora, CO - Airport: 01V, Aurora Air Park, runway 17, 4,840 × 36 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 30, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,560 total, 657 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 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 20030710018099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030710018099A), Jul 10, 2003: Amtr STOL701, Aurora, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft completed normal take off, began a crosswind turn, aircraft passed through ground effect and started to descend, due to obstacles on ground… 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.