Crosson Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sterling, Colorado 80751
Sunday, October 15, 1989 8:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED ON RWY 33, WITH WINDS HE ESTIMATED WERE 070 DEG AT 15 KTS GUSTING 20, BECAUSE HE TRIES TO KEEP PROFICIENT AT CROSSWIND LANDINGS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO CORRECT A GROUND LOOP/SWERVE DURING LANDING ROLL. A STRONG CROSSWIND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/15/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 835
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City STERLING
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80751
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CROSSON FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID STK
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 4036
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1666
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 16 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1517
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40570
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4550R
NTSB Number DEN90LA011
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 MAULE
Aircraft Model M-4-220C
Aircraft Series Identifier M-4-220C
Aircraft Serial Number 2017C
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 Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWARD A. MARISKA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15 E. 8TH AVE. BOX 99
Aircraft Owner City YUMA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80759
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 2V6
Departure City YUMA
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 33
Runway Length 4700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --