Great Lakes B1900D in Denver CO

[mnttech]

A Great Lakes Aviation Beech 1900D, registration N218YV performing flight ZK-5150 from Pueblo,CO to Denver,CO (USA) with 9 passengers and 2 crew, was on final approach to Denver's runway 35L when the crew reported "Wind Shear at 24 feet" followed by "rudder failure", then reporting they veered off the runway at 06:29L (12:29Z). The airplane came to a stand still off the runway, the left main gear collapsed. No injuries occurred


Ok, its really early, but 24 feet and rudder failure?

[pattern_is_full]

Local newspaper site says gear broke "while taxiing":

Landing gear collapses as small plane lands at DIA - The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18079472)

But: small plane, no injuries, no major destruction or fire. Unlikely to draw much regular media attention or investigation. And as you say, early yet.

I've encountered a 150° wind shift at 10 feet above the runway, for a net change in wind speed of about 25 kts (from 10 kt headwind component to 15 kt tailwind) at Centennial, about 20 miles south of KDEN. Not much problem for a big jet (and perhaps not what most mean by "shear"), but in a C172 I went from centered above the runway to one wheel over the grass in about three seconds as the wind swung around.

Only things that kept me from ending up in the same situation as this Beech were full power to delay touchdown, some rapid rudder work to get back over the hard surface, and the resistance of Mr. Cessna's spring-steel gear struts to side loads. ;)

Between mountain effects and the flat plains, the winds can be - interesting - around here. We get a weather phenomenon in Spring called "virga" - falling rain from small thunderclouds that evaporates before reaching the ground. The evaporative cooling can cause some really swirly air.

Virga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virga)