Central Colorado Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buena Vista, Colorado 81211
Saturday, February 23, 2008 10:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he started his takeoff roll on runway 33. When he reached 50 mph, he pushed the control forward stick to raise the tail. The airplane immediately swerved to the left and he corrected with right rudder. The airplane struck a snow bank along the right side of the runway and was substantially damaged. Recorded winds were from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot had recently modified the airplane by repositioning the main landing gear.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Buena Vista
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81211
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 384851N
Event Location Longitude 1060715W
Event Location Airport Central Colorado Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AEJ
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 7946
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23638
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Northwest Mountain Region
NTSB Notification Date Feb 23 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 28 2008 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver, Colorado

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N53041
NTSB Number DEN08LA061
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Hardy
Aircraft Model Midget Mustang M-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 499
Certified Max Gross Weight 896
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Jul 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 12
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Larry A. Hardy
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 816
Aircraft Owner City Buena Vista
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81211
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 AEJ
Departure City Buena Vista
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AEJ
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 14 2008 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 8300
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --