Eagle Aircraft Co. DW-1 accident near Walsh, Colorado, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Eagle Aircraft Co. DW-1, registered N8812T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walsh, Colorado (Griffin Field). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Walsh, Colorado · Griffin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eagle Aircraft Co. DW-1
- Registration
- N8812T · no longer on the register · serial 0076-82
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTS THAT HE WAS LANDING TO THE SOUTH ON THE TURF RWY WITH CALM WINDS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE SAID THE LANDING WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT SLOWED TO 40 TO 50 MPH AT WHICH TIME A WHIRLWIND WAS ENCOUNTERED WHICH LIFTED THE RIGHT WING. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT ALSO STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES WHEN THE LEFT WING HIT THE GROUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,920 hours in all; 425 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 1,860 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 709 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1986; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-M1B5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.