Ferguson Aircraft FERGY 1 accident near Falcon, Colorado, August 6, 2011
On August 6, 2011 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Ferguson Aircraft FERGY 1, registered N2515E, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Falcon, Colorado (Meadow Lake airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2011 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Falcon, Colorado · Meadow Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ferguson Aircraft FERGY 1
- Registration
- N2515E · no longer on the register · serial 2589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses saw the airplane take off and climb to about 75 to 100 feet. The airplane banked steeply to the right--one witness said about 90 degrees--before the nose dropped 45 degrees and the airplane impacted a hangar. The student pilot told first responders that he didn't know what happened. He reportedly told ambulance personnel he heard a "pop" and thought a rudder cable had snapped. He later told his wife that he thought a thermal or wind gust pushed the airplane. According to the sheriff's report, the student pilot said something on the aircraft had broken. The student pilot reported to the NTSB that he did not recall saying that a rudder cable had snapped. Although control continuity was traced throughout the structure, there were numerous control cable separations. The cable separations were consistent with overload failures, likely due to impact forces.
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 in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,100 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 2 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 33 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 15, 2010; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 584ULDCDI-99 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFLY Falcon CO at 1:20 pm
- Destination: KFLY Falcon CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 1:31 pm from KFLY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on February 9, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FAA Investigator's Notes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | El Paso County Sheriff's Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Stephen Oliveres' Notes | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 1 - Pre-accident Photo of N2515E | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 2 - the Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 3 - Paint Chips and Taxiway Impact Mark | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 4 - Hangar Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 5 - the Engine and Propeller Assembly, with Two of Three Blades Still Attached | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 6 - Recovered Third Propeller Blade | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Photo 7 - Inverted Empennage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Photo 8 - Elevator Control Arm and Rudder Cables | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Photo 9 - Tailboom Interior, Looking Aft | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.