GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO, USA
N983WP
Cirrus SR22
Following a cross-country flight, the pilot overflew the area to familiarize himself with the destination airport and elected to land to the south. The weather was clear, and the automated weather observing system reported the winds were calm. The pilot flew the final approach with an airspeed "in the mid 70s" and configured the airplane with full flaps. During the landing flare, the airplane developed an uncontrollable sink rate and landed hard, collapsing the nosewheel and resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane likely encountered a tailwind during landing, causing the airplane to stall. The nearest weather reporting facilities recorded gusty wind conditions from variable directions about the time of the accident. It is likely that the airplane encountered an unexpected tailwind during landing, and the pilot's lost airplane control, resulting in a stall.
On August 25, 2019, about 1250 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus SR-22 airplane, N983WP, experienced a hard landing at the Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport (GWS), Glenwood Spring, Colorado. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to CBGNC Aviation LLC and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed about the time of the accident, and the flight was operating utilizing visual flight rules (VFR) flight following at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Russel Municipal Airport (RSL), Russell, Kansas, and was destined for GWS. The pilot overflew GWS to familiarize himself with the area and elected to land to the south. He stated the weather was clear and the automated weather observing system (AWOS) reported the winds were calm. The pilot further reported the temperature was 84° F and the altimeter setting was 29.84 in. Hg. The pilot "flew the final approach in the mid 70's (airspeed) and full flaps." During the flare "the bottom fell out" and the airplane landed hard on the main landing gear and then the nosewheel, which subsequently collapsed. An examination of the airplane noted the composite firewall was damaged, substantially damaging the airplane. In addition, the trailing edge of the right leg fairings were split apart and both wheel pants exhibited upward crush damage. The pilot later stated that although the AWOS reported calm winds, historical data indicated the winds in the general area were shifting between north and northwest at 7-12 kts. He stated it was possible "I picked up enough of a tailwind to bring me from above to below stall speed." He also stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane at the time of the accident. At 1256 wind at Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), 23 miles northeast of GWS, was from the west-southwest at 18 miles per hour (mph), gusting to 28 mph. Temperature was 87° F and dewpoint was 37° F. At 1253 wind at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE), 31 miles southeast of GWS, was reported as variable at 7 mph, gusting to 22 mph. Temperature was 81° F and dewpoint was 35° F.
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing with a tail wind, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing..
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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