FAIRCHILD PT-19A
Colorado Springs, CO — August 8, 2009
Event Information
| Date | August 8, 2009 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN09CA505 |
| Event ID | 20090810X01932 |
| Location | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.94056, -104.56861 |
| Airport | Meadow Lake Airport |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | FAIRCHILD |
| Model | PT-19A |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall during a high-density altitude takeoff.
Full Narrative
The airplane departed runway 33 (6,000 feet by 60 feet, asphalt, with a slight up-slope). Witnesses reported that the airplane "never got more than about 50 feet in the air". The airplane then impacted terrain and came to rest just beyond the departure end of the runway. Fuel was present at the site, the airplane's engine and right wing had been torn from the fuselage during the accident, resulting in substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated that the airplane's wooden propeller was in "splinters" and that there "didn’t appear to be any control problems". The density altitude was calculated to be 9,590 feet.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.