# NTSB DEN04LA034: Cessna 182, N5609B, Hudson, CO, December 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 2003, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Hudson, CO - Coordinates: 40.099723, -104.70111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0997&lon=-104.7011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 58545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58545/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA034 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control due to an excessive crosswind component, resulting in an uncontrolled groundloop/swerve. Contributing factors were the crosswind gust and the soft, sandy terrain. ## Analysis The pilot said he was landing on runway 33 into a left 30-degree crosswind (later he said it was a 70-degree crosswind). "An apparent gust" of approximately 40 mph "caused the airplane to ground loop to the left side of the runway. The airplane departed the runway, "it appears the right wheel dug into the sandy ground," and the airplane nosed over. According to the Wind Component Chart, under the conditions described by the pilot, a 30-degree, 40 mph crosswind would produce a crosswind component of 20 mph. A 70-degree, 40 mph crosswind would produce a crosswind component of 38 mph. According to a spokesperson for the airplane manufacturer, the maximum crosswind component for the airplane is 15 mph. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2003, approximately 1200 mountain standard time, N5609B, a Cessna 182 (tailwheel conversion), registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing roll at the Platte Valley Airpark, Hudson, Colorado. The private pilot and his student pilot certificated-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Kelly Airpark, Elbert, Colorado, approximately 1125. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he said he was landing on runway 33 into a left 30-degree crosswind. In his accident report, however, he indicated it was a 70-degree crosswind. "An apparent gust" of approximately 40 mph "caused the airplane to ground loop to the left side of the runway. The airplane departed the runway, "it appears the right wheel dug into the sandy ground," and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed; the propeller, engine mounts, and both wings were bent, and the windshield was shattered. According to the Wind Component Chart, under the conditions described by the pilot, a 30-degree, 40 mph crosswind would produce a crosswind component of 20 mph. A 70-degree, 40 mph crosswind would produce a crosswind component of 38 mph. According to a Cessna Aircraft Company spokesperson, the maximum crosswind component for the airplane is 15 mph. ## 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) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance,crosswind capability - exceeded (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5609B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5609B), registered now, S/N 33609, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33609 - Airframe hours: 1033 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Russell J. Kostroski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 2003, 29 hours before - Departed: CO15, Elbert, CO - Destination: 18V, Hudson, OH - Airport: 18V, Platte Valley Airpark, runway 33, 4,100 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 2, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,001 total, 422 in this make and model, 1,819 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point -4 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: DEN, 17 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 20031228034109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031228034109A), Dec 28, 2003: Cessna 182, Hudson, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 28, 2003 approximately 1200 mountain standard time, N5609B, a Cessna 182 (tailwheel conversion) registered to and operated by the pilot, was… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.