Amateur-built Vans RV-4 accident near Durango, Colorado, July 5, 2003
On July 5, 2003 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Vans RV-4, registered N78DR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
partial propeller blade separation for reasons undetermined, and the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during the forced landing approach that resulted in his overshooting the road on intended landing and colliding with trees. A contributing factor was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2003 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Vans RV-4
- Registration
- N78DR · registry record · serial 859
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he was climbing through 8,500 feet when the engine began to shake violently. He reduced power to idle and eventually shut the engine down. When the propeller stopped, he noticed one-half inch of one blade's trailing edge had separated. After dropping full flaps, the pilot attempted to make a forced landing on a dirt road but overshot. The airplane collided with two trees next to the road. A wood propeller manufacturer examined the propeller and found no defects or other damage to the propeller.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,910 hours in all; 946 in this make and model; 3,195 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,406 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 27, 2003; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00C Durango CO at 7:30 pm
- Destination: E98 Los Lunas NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from DRO
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.