# NTSB DEN05LA109: Piper PA46-500TP, N804JH, Canon City, CO, July 1, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 2005, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Canon City, CO - Coordinates: 38.428333, -105.105003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4283&lon=-105.1050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Disctrict Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 61968 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61968/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA109 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing factors include the crosswind and windshear conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that the pilot of a Twin Commander in front of him performed a go-around due to "erratic winds at the approach end of runway 11" and he elected to do the same. During the second approach, he became distracted maintaining a safe distance from the Twin Commander in front of him. He stated that during the landing, the winds shifted from a right crosswind to a left crosswind and then to a left quartering tailwind. The pilot stated that during the touchdown and landing roll, the airplane drifted to the left and he overcorrected. The airplane exited the runway to the right and ground looped, coming to a rest off the runway. Both the left and right main landing gear collapsed causing substantial damage. The METAR 30 nautical miles east reported the winds as 110 degrees at 10 knots. The METAR 30 nautical miles northeast reported the winds as 140 degrees at 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2005, approximately 1315 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA46-500TP, N804JH, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during landing to runway 11 at Fremont County Airport (1V6), Canon City, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot and his passenger reported no injuries. The cross-country flight departed Steamboat Springs, Colorado, approximately 1215. According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 11. The pilot stated that the pilot of a Twin Commander in front of him performed a go-around due to "erratic winds at the approach end of runway 11" and he elected to do the same. During the second approach, he became distracted maintaining a safe distance from the Twin Commander in front of him. He stated that during the landing, the winds shifted from a right crosswind to a left crosswind and then to a left quartering tailwind. The pilot stated that during the touchdown and landing roll, the airplane drifted to the left and he overcorrected. The airplane exited the runway to the right and ground looped. Both the left and right main landing gear collapsed and the propeller struck the ground. Both the left and right landing gear actuator rods penetrated the wings. A wing rib just right of the landing gear bay door separated from the main wing spar on the right wing. Three high lock rivets, mounted to the forward spar on the left wing, were pulled up approximately 1/4 inch, the left wing tip was bent up and the skin wrinkled. The pressure vessel on the left side of the fuselage was wrinkled. The tire tread on the right main landing gear assembly was severely worn. An examination of the remaining airplane systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) in Pueblo, Colorado, (30 nautical miles east of 1V6), taken at 1253, reported the winds as 110 degrees at 10 knots. The METAR in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (30 nautical miles northeast of 1V6), taken at 1254, reported the winds as 140 degrees at 12 knots. METAR reports taken approximately 1 hour prior to the accident reported the winds as 110 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 15 knots, and 180 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots, respectively. The pilot stated that there were "buildups in the area, and turbulence was continuous light to moderate." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N804JH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N804JH), registered now, S/N 4697044, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA46-500TP - Registry model: [Piper PA46-500TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa46-500tp) (registry code 7104622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4697044 - Airframe hours: 504 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-42A 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005, 71 hours before - Departed: SBS, Steamboat Sprng, CO - Destination: 1V6, Canon City, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 1V6, Fremont County Airport, runway 11, 5,399 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 2,927 total, 85 in this make and model, 2,448 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PUB, 30 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 20050701015299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050701015299A), Jul 1, 2005: Piper PA46500TP, Canon City, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was in the process of making a second attempt to land on runway 11 at the Fremont County Airport. Pilot states he encountered severe turbulence,… ## Other investigations on N804JH (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN07LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA030), Nov 30, 2006: Piper PA-46-500TP (N804JH), Steamboat Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate design of the engine mount, which caused an uncommanded left turn, loss of directional control, and impact with snow-covered terrain. Contributing to the accident was the low nose gear… 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.