Amateur-built REBEL accident near Eagle, CO, Colorado, June 5, 2015
On June 5, 2015 at about 10:47 pm local time, a 1996 amateur-built REBEL, registered N914FM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Eagle, CO, Colorado (Eagle County Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty, crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the recommended limitation of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2015 · about 10:47 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle, CO, Colorado · Eagle County Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built REBEL NO SERIES, built 1996
- Registration
- N914FM · no longer on the register · serial 0147R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the experimental, amateur-built airplane in gusty, crosswind conditions. Witnesses observed the airplane enter a sharp left turn away from the runway at a very low altitude, overfly the airport taxiway and ramp area, then impact a hangar on the airport property. A witness stated that "the wind caught [the airplane]" as it was landing. The airplane had a stated crosswind limitation of 15 knots. Based on recorded wind data, the calculated crosswind component was between 13.7 knots and 16.8 knots. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The accident sequence is consistent with the pilot losing control of the airplane while landing in gusty, crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the recommended crosswind limitation of the airplane.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum crosswind component › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,003 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 2,585 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 215.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 15, 2015
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru ALL MDLS A/B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: EGE Eagle, CO CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from KEGE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
16 documents, released by the NTSB on December 1, 2016. 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 | Non-volatile Memory Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Non-volatile Memory Devices - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 | data file | Download |
| 3 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation - Citation Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 27 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Tower Log | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Maintenance Records - Airplane | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Maintenance Records - Engine Logbook | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Pilot Logbook | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Rebel Brochure | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Aircraft Performance | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Video File 1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 14 | Video File 2 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 15 | Video File 3 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 16 | Video File 4 | 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.