Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On April 23, 1996, at 1252 mountain daylight time, a Whistle Questair Venture M20, N68U, sustained substantial damage while on takeoff roll at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado. The private pilot/owner of the aircraft sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the time of the accident.

The pilot said he began his takeoff roll on runway 17. As power was applied, the left wing dropped due to the engine torque. A right wind gust caused the airplane to swerve to the left and depart the runway. The nose wheel retract link broke when the nose wheel rolled into the dirt and the landing gear folded back, causing the airplane to nose over. the pilot's failure to compensate for prevailing wind conditions and to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusting and quartering tailwind conditions.