Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Antonito, Colorado 81120
Tuesady, May 24, 1994 14:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ANTONITO
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81120
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 163
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 24 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6695K
NTSB Number FTW94LA178
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 425B
Certified Max Gross Weight 4500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEWART, EDWARD W & SHIRLEY M
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1451 EAST RD., P.O. BOX 58
Aircraft Owner City DELTA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81416
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TAD
Departure City TRINIDAD
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1V8
Destination City CENTER
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --