Rupe RV-4 accident near Longmont, CO
On October 7, 1995, a Rupe RV-4 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Longmont, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 7, 1995
- Place
- Longmont, CO
- Aircraft
- Rupe RV-4 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.170°N, 105.110°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04680
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 7, 1995, at 1250 mountain daylight time, a Rupe RV-4 homebuilt, N61TR, impacted near mid field at Vance Brand Airport, Longmont, Colorado. The pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft departed Vance Brand Airport at 1215. According to witnesses, the aircraft was passing over the airport from north to south at mid field about 800 feet above the ground and was seen to be trailing white smoke. Several witnesses described hearing a "popping" noise and saw the aircraft pitch up and then enter a left turn flat spin to the ground, impacting beside runway 11/29 about mid field facing opposite its original direction of travel. Witnesses stated the aircraft began to burn shortly after impact. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Pilot logbooks were retrieved from the aircraft wreckage but were damaged and no useful information was derived from them. According to available information, the pilot was, at one time, a pilot for the U. S. Air Force and stopped flying in about 1957. The pilot started flying the accident aircraft in 1993 and the aircraft logs provided information that he flew approximately 227 hours in the aircraft after he purchased it from the builder. Other flight time accumulated by the pilot is unknown. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The RV-4 is an all metal low wing monoplane powered by a reciprocating engine in the 150 to 180 shaft horsepower range. Specifications are
Probable cause
the installation of an unapproved metal propeller which led to a fatigue failure of a blade and loss of aircraft control.
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Browse: Colorado
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
