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Accidents · NTSB DEN08CA154 · Final report

North American SNJ-5 accident near Leadville, Colorado, September 5, 2008

On September 5, 2008 at about 4:30 pm local time, a North American SNJ-5, registered N9813C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Leadville, Colorado (Lake County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 5, 2008 · about 4:30 pm local time · cases in 2008
Place
Leadville, Colorado · Lake County Airport · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
North American SNJ-5 · all SNJ-5s on the register
Registration
N9813C · registry record · serial 84995
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

According to the pilot, the preflight inspection was performed and an engine run-up was "completely successful" on the supercharged engine. He advanced the throttle to "full power," noted 2,050 rpm and 20 inches (expecting 2,200 rpm and 32 inches) and released the brakes for the ground roll. After an 800-foot ground roll, the pilot noted 55 miles per hour, 2,100 rpm, and 28 inches. The airplane drifted to the right and the pilot attempted to correct with the application of left rudder and aileron control. The airplane became airborne and the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane settled back to the ground and headed towards the left side of the runway, at which time the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane became airborne one additional time, departed the runway environment to the left, and impacted several trees, resulting in substantial damage. Density altitude at the time of the accident was estimated to be 11,570 feet. An examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

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

  1. Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
  2. Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff
  3. Runway excursion during takeoff

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained

Pilot

  • Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 2,664 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 169 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 1,016 as pilot in command; 458 on instruments
  • Last flight review: March 1, 2007
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: frt
  • Injury: no injuries

Other crew

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 193 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: October 1, 1997
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: rear
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 4,367 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2007
  • Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: LXV Leadville CO at 4:30 pm
  • Destination: LXV Leadville CO
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 34, 6,400 ft by 75 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: at 7 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
  • Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
  • Observation at 1:53 pm from LXV, 1 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.

Other NTSB records under N9813C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1986-08-15DEN86FA231 · accident near Redcliff, CO · destroyed · fatal

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN08CA154.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.