Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 accident near Hayden, Colorado, November 3, 2013
On November 3, 2013 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2005 Raytheon Aircraft Company A36, registered N981PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hayden, Colorado (Yampa Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2013 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hayden, Colorado · Yampa Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company A36, built 2005
- Registration
- N981PA · registry record · serial E-3599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a straight in approach to land to runway 28, the pilot flew the airplane with a side slip while maintaining runway centerline. At about ten feet above the runway a gust of wind blew the airplane right of centerline and the pilot corrected the airplane back to the runway's centerline. Upon touchdown, the pilot reported that a crosswind blew the airplane's nose to the right, the airplane touched down 10 to 20 degrees right of runway heading, and exited the right side of the runway, making contact with objects off the runway. Both wings sustained substantial damage. Winds reported on the field about the time of the accident were 250 degrees at 23 knots with gusts to 29 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 557 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KASE Aspen CO at 6:55 pm
- Destination: KHDN Hayden CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 19 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KHDN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.