Amateur-built SC7 accident near Denver, Colorado, April 20, 1987
On April 20, 1987, a amateur-built SC7, registered N20DA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Denver airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- April 20, 1987
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SC7
- Registration
- N20DA · no longer on the register · serial SH 1843
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THAT HE MADE A NORMAL CROSSWIND LANDING ON RWY 26L AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL ARPT, DENVER, COLORADO. AFTER LEAVING THE RWY AND TAXIING PARALLEL TO THE RWY HE OBSERVED THE WIND INCREASING IN VELOCITY. HE STOPPED THE ACFT BUT A STRONG GUST OF WIND FLIPPED THE ACFT OVER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,712 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 1987; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-2-201A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Capitol Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MEK Milwaukee WI at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 10,004 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 28 knots, gusting 47
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.