# NTSB DEN05CA129: Piper PA-18A-135, N7172K, Cedaredge, CO, August 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2005, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Cedaredge, CO - Coordinates: 38.865554, -107.822776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8656&lon=-107.8228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05CA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62302/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA129 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning. Contributing to the accident was the wind shift, resultant tailwind, and the inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) - object - fence ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 35. While in the landing flare, the wind shifted from a headwind to a tailwind, resulting in a 15-20 knot tailwind and an increased groundspeed. The pilot stated that he attempted a go-around procedure. The airplane stalled and fell "about 15 feet onto a fence and rocks along the fence", causing substantial damage. According to the pilot, the wind was 160 at 12 knots with gusts of 18 knots and there was light turbulence at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2005, at 1430 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-135, N7172K, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a go-around at the Flying W. Ranch Airport (KCO20), Cedaredge, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Vernal, Utah, at 1300 MDT. According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 35 and had overflown the runway to establish the wind direction. During the landing flare, the wind shifted from a headwind to a tailwind. The pilot stated that this shift in wind direction resulted in a 15-20 knot tailwind and an increased groundspeed. He attempted a go-around procedure and during a turn to avoid trees the airplane stalled and fell "about 15 feet onto a fence and rocks." The fuselage and firewall were both wrinkled, both wing struts bent, and the landing gear torn aft. The pilot reported no anomalies with any of the airplane systems. A further examination of the airplane systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. The Flying W. Ranch Airport (KCO20) is a private airstrip, owned by the pilot. According to airnav.com, runway 35 is 2,400 feet in length and 50 feet in width, uphill and used only for landing. At 1430 MDT, the Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) routine aviation weather report (METAR), which is located 22 NM south of the Flying W. Ranch Airport, issued a special report with the winds reported variable at 6 knots. Thunderstorms were in the vicinity of MTJ at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the wind was 160 at 12 knots with gusts of 18 knots and there was light turbulence at the time of the accident. The pilot stated there was typical summer afternoon convection in the area but no active cells. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7172K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7172K), registered now, S/N 18-396, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-396 - Airframe hours: 1924 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2004, 55 hours before - Departed: VEL, VERNAL, UT - Destination: CO20, Cedaredge, CO - Airport: CO20, Flying W. Ranch Airport, runway 35, 2,400 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 2,768 total, 200 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KMTJ, 22 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 20050817017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050817017709A), Aug 17, 2005: Piper PA18, Cedaredge, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he departed vernal, Utah at approximately 1300 MDT for his private airstrip, CO20. He arrived at approximately 14:20. There were… 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.