# NTSB DEN05CA095: Vans RV-6A, N8097F, Trinidad, CO, June 26, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 26, 2005, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Trinidad, CO - Coordinates: 37.259445, -104.340553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2594&lon=-104.3406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver, Colorado - NTSB case key (mKey): 61809 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05CA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61809/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA095 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - soft - Gear collapsed, landing - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The pilot said that during the landing flare a gust of wind caused the left wing to lower and the "left main gear to hit hard and caused the aircraft to bounce about 25 feet back into the air." He then said that the aircraft "weathervaned into the wind and stalled on the edge of the runway." The nose gear "got stuck" on the edge of the runway, and the aircraft nosed over. He noted the damage to the landing gear, propeller, both wingtips, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevator, rudder, and canopy. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2005, at approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, a Vans RV-6A airplane, N8097F, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing at the Perry Stokes Airport, Trinidad, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Arlington, Texas, and was en route to Salida, Colorado. The pilot said he diverted to Trinidad due to weather along his route of flight. He reported flying a standard approach with extra airspeed due to the winds. He said that during the landing flare, a gust of wind caused the left wing to lower and the "left main gear to hit hard and caused the aircraft to bounce about 20 feet back into the air." He then said that the aircraft "weathervaned into the wind and stalled on the edge of the runway." The nose gear "got stuck" on the edge of the runway, the aircraft skidded approximately 30 feet, then nosed over. The airport manager reported observing the aircraft in a "nose high, stalled configuration approximately 20 feet in the air over runway 21." He said the airplane then "rotated to the right until inverted, and then crashed upside down." He said that the aircraft impacted terrain "flat, and stopped moving." The pilot reported that the nose landing gear collapsed damaging the cowling and propeller. Furthermore, the rudder was crushed, one of the wingtips was partially sheared, the horizontal stabilizer was bent, and the canopy was shattered. The weather reported by the Trinidad automated surface observation station (ASOS) 6 minutes before the accident were winds, 200 degrees at 17 knots, gusting 23 knots; temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit; lightning distant to the northwest and southwest. The pilot reported the weather as temperature, 91 degrees Fahrenheit; "thundershowers approximately 20 miles west of the airport", and moderate turbulence during the flight, but no turbulence once the airplane was on short final. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8097F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8097F-2006-04-17), registration cancelled 2006-04-17, S/N 24446, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft RV-6A - Registry model: [Taft Malcolm J SR RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/taft-malcolm-j-sr-rv-6a) (registry code 05617AP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24446 - Airframe hours: 126 - Engines: Lycoming O360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: GKY, Arlington, TX - Destination: 0V2, Salida, CO - Airport: TAD, Trinidad-Stokes, runway 21, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 517 total, 126 in this make and model, 426 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 17 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TAD ## 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 20050626013089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050626013089A), Jun 26, 2005: Amtr RV6A, Trinidad, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] ^ was enroute from dallas, Texas, to salida, Colorado, in his personal aircraft, a RV-6A. He stopped at Trinidad,… 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.