Fort Collins-Loveland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Collins, Colorado 80538
Monday, July 20, 2009 20:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot ground looped his tailwheel-equipped airplane while attempting to land in gusty, crosswind conditions. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the longerons. The right main landing gear and right wingtip were also damaged. The pilot reported there were no pre-mishap mechanical deficiencies and that the accident could have been prevented if he had paid closer attention to the reported winds and landed on a more suitable runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty, crosswind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/2009
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Fort Collins
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80538
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 402704N
Event Location Longitude 1050024W
Event Location Airport Fort Collins-Loveland AIrport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FNL
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
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) 25927
NTSB Notification Source NWR ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2009 12:06PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8778D
NTSB Number CEN09CA464
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-160
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-5966
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BLACK DONALD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4679 EDIE PL
Aircraft Owner City ERIE
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80516-9006
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Brain Cabebe
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Denver
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
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 --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 7CO0
Departure City Erie
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FNL
Destination City Fort Collins
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 26 2010 3:09PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --