Fisher GLASTAR GS-1 accident near Berthoud, Colorado, August 10, 2000
On August 10, 2000 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Fisher GLASTAR GS-1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N99DF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berthoud, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during takeoff. A factor was the irrigation equipment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2000 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Berthoud, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fisher GLASTAR GS-1 GLASTAR GS, amateur-built
- Registration
- N99DF · no longer on the register · serial 5221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane drifted slightly to the left (north) as the pilot landed to the east, going uphill, on the private airstrip. He noted irrigation equipment on the south side of the airstrip. Takeoff was made to the west going downhill and he noticed 'considerable drift to the right (north).' He lowered the left wing to correct for the drift. As the airplane lifted off, the left wing struck an irrigation buggy wheel, causing the airplane to spin around 180 degrees. The airplane slid backwards, tearing off the tail wheel, and came to a halt under the sprinkler arm. The wind recorded at an airport 13 miles north of the accident site was from the south (160 degrees) at 7 knots with gusts 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,185 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 1999; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 2V2 Longmont CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from FNL, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.