Stevens Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147
Thursday, October 14, 2010 16:55 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the final approach to the runway, the pilot stated that he allowed the airplane to develop a high sink rate which he did not correct. The airplane touched down on the runway and bounced airborne twice. The nose gear fork then fractured and separated and the propeller struck the runway surface. The airplane received substantial damage to the forward fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/14/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1655
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Pagosa Springs
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81147
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 371706N
Event Location Longitude 1070313W
Event Location Airport Stevens Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PSO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 7664
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID PSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 7664
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.43
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report PSO 142255Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/M07 A3043
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27683
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 18 2010 2:23PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4979M
NTSB Number CEN11CA031
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number E-1281
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 5620
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name ERIC W LAGER
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PALOS PARK
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60464
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ERIC W LAGER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PALOS PARK
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60464
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 GCK
Departure City Garden City
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PSO
Destination City Pagosa Springs
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2010 11:18AM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 8100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --