Buena Vista Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buena Vista, Colorado 81211
Saturday, January 20, 1996 11:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that prior to takeoff, he estimated the wind to be from 260 degrees at 8 to 10 knots. He said that during the takeoff roll on runway 33, he was unable to maintain runway heading. The airplane went off the right side of the runway, cleared a drainage ditch, and impacted the opposite embankment. After the accident, the pilot said the wind was from 260 degrees at 20 knots (23 mph) with gusts to 25 knots (29 mph). According to a Cessna Aircraft Company spokesman, the airplane was flight tested in a 30 mph direct crosswind.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor relating to the accident was: the crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/20/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City BUENA VISTA
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81211
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BUENA VISTA MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7V1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 7945
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1056 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID COS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6172
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 65
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 6210
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) 27
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 22 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6502A
NTSB Number FTW96LA101
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 32399
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 3 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 3125
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS D. MOORE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3065
Aircraft Owner City BUENA VISTA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81211
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 304 WATERS
Operator City BUENA VISTA
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 81211
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 7V1
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 33
Runway Length 3425
Runway Width 28
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --