Buena Vista Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buena Vista, Colorado 81211
Tuesady, October 23, 1990 10:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A STUDENT PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING ON RUNWAY 15. ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO WAS SUPERVISING THIS SOLO FLIGHT, THE PLANE MADE A HARD LANDING, PORPOSIED, AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE PLANE WENT DOWN A FIVE FOOT EMBANKMENT, NOSED OVER, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED OFF THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. BOTH WINGS SPARS THE FUSELAGE AND THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED. THE FLIGHT INFORMATION PUBLICATION AIRPORT DIRECTORY WARNS OF A FIVE FOOT DROP ALONG THE EAST EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN WELL LEFT OF THE CENTER LINE, AND THE NOSE WHEEL IMPACTED HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE WHEEL RIM, BLOW OUT THE TIRE AND TUBE AND MADE STEERING DIFFICULT. CALM WINDS PREVAILED DURING THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FLARE PROPERLY DURING LANDING. THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/23/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City BUENA VISTA
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81211
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BUENA VISTA
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 7980
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1290
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 23 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1051
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42467
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 N2665L
NTSB Number DEN91LA011
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier 172H
Aircraft Serial Number 17255865
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 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
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ARKANSAS VALLEY AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 1213
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 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 15
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --