# NTSB DEN87LA079: North American Navion, N91735, Los Alamos, NM, April 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1987, 11:47 local (18:47 UTC)
- Place: Los Alamos, NM
- Coordinates: 35.889377, -106.279594 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8894&lon=-106.2796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17186
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17186/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA079

## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not attained, dual student (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PLT WAS GIVING CROSS WIND INSTRUCTION TO A PRE-SOLO STUDENT PLT. DURING A CROSS WIND LANDING ATTEMPT, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, BREAKING OFF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE WINDS WERE OBSERVED AT THE TIME OF TOUCHDOWN TO BE 150 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS, A QUARTERING TAIL WIND FOR RWY 27. AFTER LANDING, THE ACFT SKIDDED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANDING AREA UNTIL COMING TO REST IN THE ARPT BOUNDARY FENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91735](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91735-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N NAV-4-491, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION
- Registry model: [North American NAVION](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion) (registry code 6150130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NAV 4 491
- Airframe hours: 3173
- Engines: CONTINENTAL E 225 4 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Richard B. Olwin
- Registered owner: Richard B Olwin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 23, 1986
- Departed: SAF, SANTA FE, NM
- Airport: LAM, Los Alamos, runway 27, 5,543 × 130 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,370 total, 9 in this make and model, 4,370 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAM

## 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 19870403008519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870403008519A), Apr 3, 1987: Tmpson NAVIONB, Los Alamos, NM, Substantial damage. Student made a hard crosswind landing. Side load broke off the right main gear. Airplane cartwheeled into a fence.

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.

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