North American SNJ-5 accident near Steamboat Spg, Colorado, September 3, 2000
On September 3, 2000 at about 8:30 pm local time, a North American SNJ-5, registered N440JG, was destroyed in an accident near Steamboat Spg, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadvertent entry into a spin while performing aerobatics.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2000 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Steamboat Spg, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-5 · all SNJ-5s on the register
- Registration
- N440JG · no longer on the register · serial 44014
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplane was one of three airplanes that were to perform two fly-bys for a rodeo. While the airplanes were maneuvering for the second fly-by, the accident airplane was observed entering a snap roll to the right. At the completion of the roll, the airplane was in a 30 to 40 degree nose down attitude. Subsequently, the airplane entered a nose-low spin to the left. The airplane completed approximately 3 rotations and impacted the ground in a level attitude.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,527 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBS
- Destination: SBS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from HDN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.