- Date
- June 14, 2006, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alamosa, CO
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6134XCessna TU206G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 3, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20060614010919A
- Case key
- 63911
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 the landing. Contributing factors include the gusty winds, the crosswind, and the pilot exceeding the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane.
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
According to the pilot, he encountered a gust of wind during the landing flare to runway 20. The pilot stated that a gust brought the left wing up and he added power to recover and the airplane "straightened out." He stated that he reduced power to land and encountered a second gust of wind, bringing the left wing up again. The right wing impacted the runway and the airplane "ground looped," resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. Reported winds were 240 degrees at 27 knots, gusting 36 knots. The crosswind component was calculated to be between 17 and 23 knots. According to the pilot operating handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for this airplane is 20 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he encountered a gust of wind during the landing flare to runway 20 (8,519 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). The pilot stated that a gust brought the left wing up and he added power to recover and the airplane "straightened out." He stated that he reduced power to land and encountered a second gust of wind, bringing the left wing up again. The right wing impacted the runway and the airplane "ground looped." The engine separated from the airplane, the right wing tip was crushed, and the left tire separated. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA Inspector, revealed no anomalies. The pilot did not report any problems with the airplane or its systems.
The closest official weather observation station was San Luis Valley regional Airport/Bergman field (ALS), Alamosa, Colorado. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) for ALS, issued at 1152, reported, winds, 240 degrees at 27 knots, gusting 36 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature 27 degrees Celsius (C); dewpoint, 01 degrees C; altimeter, 30.25 inches. The crosswind component was calculated to be between 17 and 23 knots. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for this airplane is 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6134X
- Reported as
- Cessna TU206G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20605826
- Airframe hours
- 25,579
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-M, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2005
- Departed
- PVU · Provo, UT
- Destination
- ALS · Alamosa, CO
- Airport
- ALS · San Luis Valley Regional/Bergm, runway 20, 8,519 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 549 total · 121 in this make and model · 474 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 11 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 27 knots, gusting 36
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- ALS, 1 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.