- Date
- September 3, 2004, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Hayden, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7030KPiper PA-20
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Denver Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20040903022999A
- Case key
- 60059
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing factors include the excessive crosswind component, and the gusty wind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to land on a grass strip when he "encountered a strong crosswind." The pilot stated that he landed on a heading of 090. The airplane nosed over causing substantial damage. Winds at Hayden, Colorado, (20 miles south of the grass strip) were reported as 200 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 30 knots. The pilot estimated the winds were 180 degrees at 14 knots with gusts between 20 and 25 knots. The calculated crosswind component was between 18 and 28 knots. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On September 3, 2004, at approximately 0945 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-20, N7030K, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing on a grass strip 20 miles north of Hayden, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The local flight originated at approximately 0930.
According to the FAA inspector, the pilot was attempting to land on a grass strip when he "encountered a strong crosswind." The pilot noted on his accident report form that he landed on a heading of 090. The airplane nosed over, wrinkling the firewall, bending both wings and crushing the vertical stabilizer. Winds at Hayden, Colorado, (20 miles south of the grass strip) were from 200 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 30 knots. The pilot estimated the winds were 180 degrees at 14 knots with gusts between 20 and 25 knots. The calculated crosswind component was between 18 and 28 knots. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7030K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20-135
- Airframe hours
- 2,470.3
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 24, 2004 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- Hayden, CO
- Airport
- Private Grass Strip, runway 090, 1,600 × 20 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- June 24, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 36 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 19 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- HDN, 20 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.