Rans S20 accident near Springfield, Colorado, October 12, 2025
On October 12, 2025 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2022 Rans S20, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N319WD, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Springfield, Colorado (Springfield Muni). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 during the takeoff with a right crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2025 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Colorado · Springfield Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S20, built 2022, amateur-built
- Registration
- N319WD · registry record · serial 06170073
- 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 while taking off from runway 17, the airplane immediately yawed right as soon as the tail came up. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane drifted to the left and exited the left side of the runway. During the runway excursion, the right landing gear struck a berm. The airplane’s right wing impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the winds were from 260° at 16 knots and gusting to 24 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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,337 hours in all; 1,724 in this make and model; 162 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 4,250 as pilot in command; 3,447 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 28, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 315 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 12, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 915is (piston); 262 hours total
The flight
- Destination: UT9 Fairfield UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KSPD, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSPD 121656Z AUTO 22013KT 24/08 A2976 RMK AO1 SLP013 T02440078=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture 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 March 13, 2026. 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 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 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.