# NTSB DEN92LA056: North American Harvard MK-II, N90541, Watkins, CO, June 8, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 7, 1992, 18:20 local (Jun 8, 1992, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.750846, -104.599189 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7508&lon=-104.5992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18212
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18212/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA056

## Probable cause

THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLING THE AIRPLANE.  FACTORS INCLUDED: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TAKEOFF, AND INADEQUATE AIRSPEED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID AIRPLANE 'FEEL' WAS NORMAL AS HE TAXIED TO RUNWAY 36. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AS THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED TO 40 TO 45 MPH, IT FELT 'HEAVIER THAN NORMAL.'  THE LEFT WING LIFTED AND THE AIRPLANE WEATHERVANED TO THE RIGHT.  OPPOSITE RUDDER HAD NO EFFECT EXCEPT TO DROP THE LEFT WING AND THE AIRPLANE FELT 'LIGHTER.'  THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE FOR A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 375 FEET AND IMPACTED A PLOWED FIELD, SHEARING THE WINGS FROM THE FUSELAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90541](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90541-2010-09-16), registration cancelled 2010-09-16, S/N 3771, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN HARVARD MK-II (HARVARD MK)
- Registry model: [North American HARVARD MKII](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-harvard-mkii) (registry code 6400442) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3771
- Airframe hours: 5800
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lenehan, James
- Registered owner: Lenehan, James
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 1992, 1 hours before
- Departed: FTG
- Destination: 00V, FALCON, CO
- Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 36, 4,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 532 total, 128 in this make and model, 466 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19920607018379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920607018379A), Jun 7, 1992: Namer HARVARDMK2, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on takeoff. Zig zagged. Lifted in ground effect. Dragged a wing and cartwheeled.

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.