Amateur-built 100D2 accident near Hudson, Colorado, September 16, 2005
On September 16, 2005 at about 1:00 pm local time, a amateur-built 100D2, registered N197D, was destroyed in an accident near Hudson, Colorado (Erie Municipal Airport). 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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2005 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hudson, Colorado · Erie Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 100D2
- Registration
- N197D · registry record · serial PL4-1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane took off at approximately 0645. At approximately 0700, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) began receiving an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal. An aerial search failed to locate the source of the transmission. A ground search was organized at approximately 1630, and the wreckage was located that afternoon. On scene examination of the airplane showed damage characteristics consistent with a stall/spin. An autopsy revealed no evidence of physical incapacitation or impairment. Toxicological test was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and drugs. Later examination of the engine revealed the right carburetor float was hydraulically crushed and the bowl was dry. The carburetor air box was compromised during impact. There was fuel in the totalizer. Both magnetos sparked. Engine compression was confirmed on the #2 and #3 cylinders. Engine compression was not possible on cylinders #1 and #4 because impact damage to the rear accessory case compromised camshaft continuity. All four cylinders were boroscoped and revealed no anomalies. Oil pump continuity was confirmed
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 48V Erie CO at 12:00 pm
- Destination: BVO Bartlesville OK
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from DEN
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 DEN05LA141.