Evolution Revolt accident near Durango, Colorado, October 4, 2020
On October 4, 2020 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2017 Evolution Revolt (weight-shift aircraft), registered N912RE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Durango, Colorado (Durango-La Plata County Airpor 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
The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing following a hard landing and failure of the right main tire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2020 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Durango-La Plata County Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evolution Revolt, built 2017
- Registration
- N912RE · registry record · serial 001001
- 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 weight-shift control aircraft when the right main tire failed and he lost directional control. He reported that the landing was hard, but he had landed hard before without issues. The aircraft rolled onto its side, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure. The tire was disposed of before it could be examined, but photographs of the tire showed it had failed and split down the center groove. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the weight-shift control aircraft that would have precluded 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Wheel/ski/float › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,429 hours in all; 1.5 in this make and model; 18.1 in the last 90 days; 15.2 in the last 30 days; 2,360 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 25, 2020
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 163.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,160 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 WLS (piston); 166 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K00C Durango CO at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 9,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 am from KDRO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 4, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | 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.
Other NTSB records under N912RE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.