Cassutt SPORT RACER accident near Brighton, Colorado, October 4, 1986
On October 4, 1986 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cassutt SPORT RACER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N913M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brighton, Colorado (Van Aire 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).
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
- October 4, 1986 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Colorado · Van Aire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cassutt SPORT RACER SPORT RACE, amateur-built
- Registration
- N913M · no longer on the register · serial 097160062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE DID NOT PROPERLY LOCK THE CANOPY & IT CAME OPEN DRG FLT AT 7000 FT MSL. HE REDUCED THE SPEED & ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE CANOPY, BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. HE DIVERTED & ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE VAN AIRE ARPT WHILE HOLDING THE CANOPY WITH HIS LEFT HAND. THE THROTTLE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. WHILE PREPARING TO LAND, THE PLT HELD THE STICK BTN HIS LEGS & REACHED OVER WITH HIS RGT HAND TO REDUCE THE THROTTLE SETTING. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT LOST SPEED FASTER THAN THE PLT EXPECTED & BEGAN TO STALL AS IT WAS CROSSING OVER A POND JUST SHORT OF THE RWY. THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE WATER & THE ACFT CARTWHEELED & CAME TO REST IN THE POND.
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
- Flight time: 594 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 535 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1986; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental PC60-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V2 Longmont CO at 8:15 pm
- Destination: 01V Aurora CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,950 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from DEN, 10 miles away
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.