# NTSB FTW94LA178: Schweizer G-164B, N6695K, Antonito, CO, May 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1994, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Antonito, CO - Coordinates: 37.070568, -106.01094 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0706&lon=-106.0109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19070 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19070/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA178 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST. ## 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 - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - low level - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other ## Analysis THE PILOT REFUELED IN TRINIDAD, CO, PROGRAMMED HIS GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) RECEIVER FOR CENTER, CO, AND TOOK OFF. THE GPS RADIO HAD BEEN 'VERY ACCURATE' DURING THE FLIGHT BUT WHEN IT INDICATED THE AIRPLANE HAD ARRIVED AT CENTER, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT. WITH INSUFFICIENT FUEL REMAINING TO FLY TO ANOTHER AIRPORT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A GRAVEL ROAD. THE ROAD WAS ORIENTED TO THE SOUTH-SOUTHWEST AND THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH AT 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, A WIND GUST CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS TORN OFF WHEN IT STRUCK A LARGE ROCK. THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED TO THE RIGHT, AND CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE AND LEFT WING TIP. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 50 MILES SOUTH OF CENTER AND 80 MILES WEST OF TRINIDAD. THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED TRINIDAD WITH 80 GALLONS OF FUEL, AND WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1994, approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, N6695K, a Schweizer G-164B, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Antonito, Colorado. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The following is based on the pilot/operator report and a verbal report the pilot gave to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The pilot refueled at Trinidad, Colorado, programmed his Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and took off for Center, Colorado, at 1330. The GPS had been "very accurate" during the flight but when it indicated the airplane had arrived at Center, the pilot was unable to locate the airport. With insufficient fuel remaining to fly to Alamosa, the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing on a gravel road. The road was oriented to the south-southwest, and the wind was from the south at 15 miles per hour (MPH) with gusts to 25 MPH. During the landing roll, a wind gust was encountered and the airplane drifted off the right side of the road. The right main landing gear was torn off when it struck a large rock, the airplane groundlooped to the right, and came to rest on its nose and left wing tip. According to a Conejos deputy sheriff, the road the pilot landed on was 5 miles south of Antonito. According to the Denver Sectional Chart, Antonito is about 50 miles south of Center, and 80 miles west of Trinidad. The pilot indicated he departed Trinidad with 80 gallons of fuel, and was unfamiliar with the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6695K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6695K-2024-01-27), registration cancelled 2024-01-27, S/N 425B, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER G-164B - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 425B - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stewart, Edward W & Shirley M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: TAD, TRINIDAD, CO - Destination: 1V8, CENTER, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,900 total, 15 in this make and model, 3,750 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 15 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19940524012309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940524012309A), May 24, 1994: Scwzer G164B, Antonito, CO, Substantial damage. Used GPS for destination center co. unable to find. Elected land on gravel road. Wind blew it off. Ground looped. ## Other investigations on N6695K (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 FTW93LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA174), Jun 2, 1993: Grumman G-164B (N6695K), Stuttgart, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE DOWNWIND RUNWAY FOR LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE LEFT BRAKE MALFUNCTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS 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.