Amateur-built BERKUT accident near Loveland, Colorado, May 9, 2010
On May 9, 2010 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BERKUT, registered N3255U, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Loveland, Colorado (Fort Collins-Loveland Muni 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 engine power due to a malfunction of the fuel controller resulting in a compressor stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2010 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Loveland, Colorado · Fort Collins-Loveland Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BERKUT
- Registration
- N3255U · no longer on the register · serial 54
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The turbojet airplane was on initial takeoff when the pilot began a power reduction on the throttle. A loud bang was heard and vibrations were felt by the pilot. The engine began to lose power and the pilot attempted to land the airplane at the airport, but landed short resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. An examination of the experimental engine by the owner/manufacturer revealed a malfunction of the fuel controller which resulted in a compressor stall and subsequent loss of engine power.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 97 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 20, 2010; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Jorritsma T58-8F (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFNL Loveland CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KFNL Loveland CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KFNL
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.