Amateur-built Rans S-12 accident near Berthoud, Colorado, March 8, 2004
On March 8, 2004, a amateur-built Rans S-12, registered N7138K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berthoud, Colorado (Lazy W (Private Strip) 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare and his inadequate compensation for wind. The wind gust was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2004
- Place
- Berthoud, Colorado · Lazy W (Private Strip) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-12
- Registration
- N7138K · registry record · serial 1094523
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had entered a left downwind traffic pattern for the east/west runway, intending to land to the east. He "checked the wind sock and it was just fluttering with a very slight, if at all, crosswind... from the north." During the landing flare, he encountered a gust of wind from the north and the airplane stalled approximately 10 feet above the ground. The airplane bounced once and during the second impact with the ground, all three landing gear collapsed, substantially damaging the airplane. According to the FNL METAR (aviation routine weather report) taken at 1715, winds were reported as 150 degrees at 3 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
- HARD LANDING during landing - flare/touchdown
- GEAR COLLAPSED during landing - flare/touchdown
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2003
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 181.9 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, September 12, 2003; 34.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 618 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: Berthoud CO at 11:10 pm
- Destination: Berthoud CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 090, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°C, dew point 23°C
- Altimeter: 30.370001 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N7138K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN04LA051.