Sky Haven Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Byers, Colorado 80103
Saturday, August 3, 1991 13:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP DUE TO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE DENVER AREA. THE 2500 FOOT DIRT AND SAND RUNWAY HAD RECENTLY BEEN COATED WITH OIL. RAIN MADE THE SURFACE SLICK. THE PILOT SAID HE TOUCHED DOWN AND 'HAD TROUBLE WITH BRAKING BECAUSE OF WATER ON RUNWAY.' NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A DRAINAGE DITCH AND COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED 100 FEET AND CAME TO REST ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT RECEIVED TWO INFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFS INDICATING THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AT THE INTENDED DESTINATION UNTIL MID AFTERNOON. DENVER WEATHER WAS 600 OVERCAST WITH 6 MILES VISIBILITY IN LIGHT RAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING SITE. FACTORS WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE DITCH.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/3/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City BYERS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80103
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SKY HAVEN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C017
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 5215
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 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1334
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43938
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 N2751T
NTSB Number DEN91LA109
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model V35
Aircraft Series Identifier V35
Aircraft Serial Number D-8467
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LONNIE D. AYERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1822 DEER PATH
Aircraft Owner City FLORESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78114
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LONNIE D. AYERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 PEZ
Departure City PLEASANTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FTG
Destination City WATKINS
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --