# NTSB DEN93LA055: Piper PA-30, N7198Y, Watkins, CO, May 11, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 1993, 17:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.750438, -104.600555 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7504&lon=-104.6006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18285
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18285/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA055

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER TOUCHDOWN ALIGNMENT, AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - proper alignment - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command(cfi)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - airport facility

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN 3 TO 5 DEGREES NOSE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE, AND HE TOLD THE INSTRUCTOR TRAINEE TO APPLY LEFT RUDDER. THE RUDDER PEDAL DID NOT MOVE. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ALSO APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND GOT THE SAME RESULT. AS THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO GO OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FT, THEN BEGAN TO STALL AND ROLL. TO AVOID STRIKING THE GROUND IN A BANKED ATTITUDE, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT RETARDED THE THROTTLES AND LEVELLED THE WINGS. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE AIRPORT'S SEGMENTED CIRCLE, SPUN TO THE RIGHT, AND SKIDDED TO A HALT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE RUDDER CONTROL SYSTEM DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7198Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7198Y-1993-08-03), registration cancelled 1993-08-03, S/N 30222 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-222
- Airframe hours: 4118
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gbn Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 1993, 75 hours before
- Departed: 01V, AURORA, CO
- Destination: FTG
- Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 26, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,460 total, 95 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19930511013289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930511013289A), May 11, 1993: Piper PA30, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Lost directional control after touchdown in a crab angle. CFI took over tried go around. Stalled. Struck wing tee.

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.