Amateur-built Tailwind 10 accident near Delta, Colorado, July 26, 2010
On July 26, 2010 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Tailwind 10, registered N375JX, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Delta, Colorado (Blake Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control on the ground due to a malfunction of the right brake caliper.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2010 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Colorado · Blake Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Tailwind 10
- Registration
- N375JX · no longer on the register · serial RB 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot reached 40 knots on his takeoff roll, the airplane started to drift off the left side of the runway. The pilot thought that he had encountered a quartering tailwind and tried to correct with right brake. The airplane then veered to the right and the pilot applied left brake and rudder. This had no effect, so the pilot reduced power. The wheels sank into soft ground and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident inspection revealed heavy black marks from both the left and right tires. The right wheel would not turn even with the brake line removed. When the brake caliper was removed, the wheel rotated freely. The caliper then appeared to function normally.
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 takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 25, 2010; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AJZ Delta CO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 7V2 Paonia CO
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 03, 5,598 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.