# NTSB DEN91LA021: Gulfstream AA-5B, N4557E, Erie, CO, November 25, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1990, 16:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Erie, CO
- Coordinates: 40.020362, -105.0391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0204&lon=-105.0391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18056
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18056/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA021

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.  A REALTED FACTOR WAS: LOW LIGHT CONDITION AT DUSK.

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING TWO PASSENGERS ON A ROUND TRIP CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED AT EL PASO, TEXAS, AND WAS DISTRACTED BY WORRY OVER THE BRAKES ABILITY TO STOP ON THE DOWN HILL RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT HE MADE A NORMAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 27, AND FLARED HIGH BECAUSE OF THE DARKNESS, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE PLANE BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR, THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND MADE A GO-AROUND. HE SAID THE ENGINE VIBRATED BADLY, AND HE ASSUMED THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY, EITHER DURING THE HARD LANDING OR AS HE ADDED POWER. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, SHEARED THE MAIN GEAR AND CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN. THE RIGHT WING WAS BENT BACK, BOTH WING SPARS, THE FUSELAGE AND TAIL SECTION WERE DAMAGED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR LEGS WERE OVER STRESSED AND THE LOWER FUSELAGE WAS CRUSHED INWARD.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - aborted
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - soft

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4557E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4557E-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N AA-5B-1230 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AA-5B
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA-5B-1230
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald S. Meinen
- Departed: TAD, TRINIDAD, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 48V, Tri County, runway 27, 3,800 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 85 total, 9 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19901125060659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901125060659A), Nov 25, 1990: Gulstm AA5B, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. Flared high on night landing. Impacted. Bounced. Went around with bent prop. Landing nose gear folded. Spars bent.

## Other investigations on N4557E (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 CHI83FA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA353), Aug 2, 1983: Gulfstream AA-5B (N4557E), West Chicago, IL, substantial damage

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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