Amateur-built 1 accident near Ellicott, Colorado, June 27, 2024
On June 27, 2024 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2019 amateur-built 1, registered N10ZR, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Ellicott, Colorado (Colorado Springs East airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to takeoff with a quartering tailwind and high density altitude which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the right main axle mount due to the poor weld.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2024 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ellicott, Colorado · Colorado Springs East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 1, built 2019
- Registration
- N10ZR · registry record · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane felt “sluggish” during the takeoff roll and the airplane bounced down the dirt runway. He said that he aborted the takeoff, the airplane would not turn right, and the airplane overran the end of the runway. Subsequently, the landing gear strut dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane’s fuselage, wings, and empennage were substantially damaged. An FAA inspector that responded to the accident reported that there was evidence of nine impact points from the right main wheel along the runway for about 60% of the runway length. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear axle mount had separated from the landing gear leg due to insufficient penetration of its weld. The insufficient weld likely reduced the overall strength of the landing gear, which resulted in its separation during the takeoff roll. About the time of the takeoff from runway 17L, density altitude was about 9,700 ft and the nearest reported winds 9 miles northwest of the accident site were from 270° at 11 knots gusting to 14 knots.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 280 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 15, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 10, 2023; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O200A (piston); 4,010 hours total
The flight
- Runway 17L, 4,500 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KFLY, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFLY 271835Z AUTO 27011G14KT 10SM SCT120 31/07 A3006 RMK AO2 T03120073
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 October 22, 2024. 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 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA244.