Amateur-built SC-360 accident near Brighton, Colorado, August 27, 2020
On August 27, 2020 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 2011 amateur-built SC-360, registered N36SC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Brighton, Colorado (Van Aire Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s excessive application of wheel brakes during the landing roll that caused the airplane to nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2020 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Colorado · Van Aire Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SC-360 NO SERIES, built 2011
- Registration
- N36SC · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was receiving flight instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane that he had recently purchased. The pilot stated that the airplane bounced slightly upon touchdown, but he corrected by increasing engine power and a normal landing was made on the runway heading. The pilot reported that during the landing roll he heard his flight instructor ask him to “cut power” multiple times. The pilot stated that he responded by slowly pulling the throttle control aft while he maintained directional control as the airplane decelerated. The pilot reported that his flight instructor continued to tell him to “cut power” in a more urgent tone. The pilot stated that he confirmed the throttle control was already full aft before he applied wheel brakes to “expedite the stop” instead of letting the airplane continue to coast. The pilot stated that when he applied wheel brakes the airplane nosed over. The fuselage, rudder, and the left wing were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded its normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Braking capability › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 225 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 28.9 in the last 30 days; 115 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 15, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,400 hours in all; 410 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 5, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 410 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 2, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 410 hours total
- Operator: Medical Management Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 18V Platte Valley Airpark CO at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KDEN, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 30, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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.