Boulder Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boulder, Colorado 80301
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 11:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was attempting to land his single-engine airplane in a crosswind when the airplane drifted to the right of the runway and touched down. The left wing lifted and the pilot reacted by adding power for a go-around, but he then determined that a go-around was not a suitable option and reduced engine power. The airplane veered toward a fence and a road, so the pilot again added power in an attempt to lift the airplane over them. Subsequently, the left wing hit a telephone pole and a car. The pilot reduced power and the airplane skidded to a stop and remained upright on the landing gear. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and stated that he failed to maintain control of the airplane after touchdown while attempting to land in a crosswind.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/28/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Boulder
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80301
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400213N
Event Location Longitude 1051319W
Event Location Airport Boulder
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BDU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
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 BDU
Elevation of weather observation facility 5288
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) 27004
NTSB Notification Source FAA ANM ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 13 2010 4:01PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8SM
NTSB Number CEN10CA231
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-332
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 CURTIS CHARLES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11345 LEWISTOWN ST
Aircraft Owner City COMMERCE CITY
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80022-9789
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CURTIS CHARLES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 11345 LEWISTOWN ST
Operator City COMMERCE CITY
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 80022-9789
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code BDU
Departure City Boulder
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BDU
Destination City Boulder
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 13 2010 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --