Centennial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Centennial, Colorado 80112
Sunday, August 16, 2009 10:25 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot implemented crosswind landing procedures to include a left crab angle of approximately seven degrees. While on final approach to land on Runway 17R, the winds were reported as being from 120 degrees at 15 knots. Upon reaching the runway threshold, the pilot transitioned the airplane to a left side slip and aligned with the runway. During the flare, the left main wheel touched the runway and the airplane "weather vaned" to the left. The pilot's corrective measures failed to realign the airplane with the runway heading; the airplane flipped inverted and came to rest upside down on the runway, resulting in substantial damage. A special automated weather observation report, taken near the time of the accident, reported the winds as being from 140 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare in crosswind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1025
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Centennial
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80112
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393412N
Event Location Longitude 1045057W
Event Location Airport Centennial Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAPA
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 5885
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1044 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KAPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 5885
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
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) 26283
NTSB Notification Source Federal Aviation Administratio
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 5 2009 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N22265
NTSB Number CEN09CA530
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier S
Aircraft Serial Number 172S10026
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 14 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1288
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDB Air Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address 24624 SW Gage Rd
Aircraft Owner City Wilsonville
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97070
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name James LeGrade Chamberlain
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8621 W. Hampden
Operator City Lakewood
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 80227
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KCYS
Departure City Cheyenne
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KAPA
Destination City Centennial
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 24 2009 4:47PM
User who most recently changed record evem-i
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17R
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 77
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --