No fatalities

14 Oct 2010: BEECH A36 — ERIC W LAGER — Pagosa Springs, CO

Pagosa Springs, CO, United States

On 14 Oct 2010, a BEECH A36 operated by ERIC W LAGER was involved in an aviation accident near Pagosa Springs, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot experienced a hard landing and porpoising during final approach, resulting in a fractured nose-gear fork and propeller strike. The aircraft sustained substantial damage but no injuries occurred.

Event Overview

A private pilot was performing a landing on an 8,100-foot long hard surface runway under dry conditions with clear skies and calm wind. During the final approach, the pilot reported allowing the airplane to develop a high sink rate, which he did not correct. The airplane subsequently hit the runway and porpoised twice. The nose-gear fork then fractured and separated, and the propeller struck the runway surface.

Aircraft Damage

The aircraft received substantial damage to the forward fuselage and nose-gear. The extent of damage was limited to these areas.

Occupant Status

The pilot and passenger were not injured in the event.

Context

The landing was conducted on a long, hard surface runway with favorable weather conditions, including dry conditions, clear skies, and calm wind.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operationPilot