Piper PA12 accident near Brush, Colorado, July 2, 2025
On July 2, 2025 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1946 Piper PA12, registered N7635H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brush, Colorado (Brush Muni 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 failure to maintain directional control while performing a touch and go landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2025 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Brush, Colorado · Brush Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA12, built 1946 · all PA12s on the register
- Registration
- N7635H · registry record · serial 12-510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew to the airport to perform a touch and go landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, and the airfield’s windsock showed a southwest wind at 5 to 7 knots. He chose runway 25 and increased his landing speed due to rough air during the approach. He flew the airplane down to a 3-point landing on the runway. After landing, the wind shifted from the south and the airplane drifted to the right, so the pilot applied left rudder to correct. He added power to increase rudder effectiveness and attempted to takeoff. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane as it entered a ground loop. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, but it departed the left side of the runway, went over an embankment. The airplane became airborne, stalled, and impacted the terrain. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 167 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 17, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 2,486 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSNY Sidney NE at 4:35 pm
- Destination: KEIK Erie CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KFMM, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFMM 021755Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 30/14 A3006 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 18, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.