Amateur-built GLASAIR-SHA accident near Eagle, Colorado, July 30, 1991
On July 30, 1991, a amateur-built GLASAIR-SHA, registered N520W, was destroyed in an accident near Eagle, Colorado (Eagle airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING IN A TURN DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, STALL, AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE: EXCESSIVE BANK ANGLE AND ABRUPT MANEUVER AT A LOW ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO EFFECT A RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1991 · cases in 1991
- Place
- Eagle, Colorado · Eagle · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR-SHA GLASAIR-SH
- Registration
- N520W · registry record · serial 254
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT TURN. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE AND ABRUPT LEFT TURN TO AN EXCESSIVE BANK ANGLE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND BURNED.
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: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-HIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N520W on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-HIA 885 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Eagle County Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN91DTE01.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.