Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
Learn from Colorado's accident history to fly safer in the Rockies
2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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2 Fatal
Fort Collins, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On June 28, 2003, at 1120 mountain daylight time, a Stugart Vans RV-6A, N29PT, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain southeast of the Fort Collins Downtown Airpark (3V5), Fort Collins, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger on board the airplane were fatally injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Witnesses reported the airplane had just taken off and was climbing to the east when they heard the engine stop. The witnesses observed the airplane turn around towards the airport, depart controlled flight, and impact the ground near the southeast corner of the airport. The witnesses also said they heard the engine sputter as the airplane was attempting to return to the airport.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single and multiengine land, and instrument ratings. The pilot also held a certified flight instructor certificate with an airplane single engine land rating, dated December 12, 2001.
According to his logbook, on June 19, 2003, the pilot had 3,586.3 total flying hours. The pilot successfully completed a flight review on December 28, 2001.
The pilot held a third class medical certificate dated December 3, 2002. The certificate showed the following limitation: Must wear corrective lenses.
The pilot-rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land ratings, issued on March 27, 1958.
According to FAA airman records, the pilot-rated passenger had approximately 2,500 total flying hours.
The pilot-rated passenger held a third class medical certificate dated June 13, 2002. The certificate showed the following limitation: Must wear corrective lenses.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane, serial number 20033 was an experimental amateur-built. The airplane was owned by the pilot and used for pleasure. The airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate on April 18, 1991.
The airplane underwent a conditional inspection on October 15, 2002. The tachometer time recorded at the conditional inspection was 475 hours. The airplane's tachometer reading recorded at the accident site was 508.6 hours.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The accident site was located on the southeast edge of the airport at geographical coordinates 40 degrees, 35.27 minutes north latitude, and 105 degrees, 02.45 minutes west longitude.
The airplane wreckage was located in a muddy bog approximately 3/10 mile north and abeam the departure end of runway 11. The main wreckage consisted of all of the airplane's components.
The airplane's bottom cowling was crushed and broken aft. The top cowling was broken out and crushed downward. The engine was broken downward at the mounts, crushed aft and canted 3
On June 28, 2003, at 1120 mountain daylight time, a Stugart Vans RV-6A, N29PT, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain southeast of the Fort Collins Downtown Airpark (3V5), Fort Collins, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger on board the airplane were fatally injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Witnesses reported the airplane had just taken off and was climbing to the east when they heard the engine stop. The witnesses observed the airplane turn around towards the airport, depart controlled flight, and impact the ground near the southeast corner of the airport. The witnesses also said they heard the engine sputter as the airplane was attempting to return to the airport.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single and multiengine land, and instrument ratings. The pilot also held a certified flight instructor certificate with an airplane single engine land rating, dated December 12, 2001.
According to his logbook, on June 19, 2003, the pilot had 3,586.3 total flying hours. The pilot successfully completed a flight review on December 28, 2001.
The pilot held a third class medical certificate dated December 3, 2002. The certificate showed the following limitation: Must wear corrective lenses.
The pilot-rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land ratings, issued on March 27, 1958.
According to FAA airman records, the pilot-rated passenger had approximately 2,500 total flying hours.
The pilot-rated passenger held a third class medical certificate dated June 13, 2002. The certificate showed the following limitation: Must wear corrective lenses.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane, serial number 20033 was an experimental amateur-built. The airplane was owned by the pilot and used for pleasure. The airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate on April 18, 1991.
The airplane underwent a conditional inspection on October 15, 2002. The tachometer time recorded at the conditional inspection was 475 hours. The airplane's tachometer reading recorded at the accident site was 508.6 hours.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The accident site was located on the southeast edge of the airport at geographical coordinates 40 degrees, 35.27 minutes north latitude, and 105 degrees, 02.45 minutes west longitude.
The airplane wreckage was located in a muddy bog approximately 3/10 mile north and abeam the departure end of runway 11. The main wreckage consisted of all of the airplane's components.
The airplane's bottom cowling was crushed and broken aft. The top cowling was broken out and crushed downward. The engine was broken downward at the mounts, crushed aft and canted 3
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Details
| NTSB Report | DEN03FA114 |
| Aircraft | Stugart Vans RV-6A |
| Registration | N29PT |
| Damage | DEST |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 40.5878, -105.0408 |
