Vans Aircraft RV-4 accident near Bennett, Colorado, March 29, 1992
On March 29, 1992, a Vans Aircraft RV-4, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N14BA, was destroyed in an accident near Bennett, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR WAS: AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITS EXCEEDED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1992
- Place
- Bennett, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV-4, amateur-built
- Registration
- N14BA · registry record · serial 789
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING WHAT WITNESSES DESCRIBED AS AEROBATIC MANEUVERS, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITS WERE EXCEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED THAT AFT C.G. RESULTED IN DETERIORATED STALL SPIN RECOVERY. AFT C.G. WAS EXCEEDED BY A MINIMUM OF .5 INCHES.
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: 747 hours in all; 421 in this make and model; 691 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 428 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1991; 124 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 01V Watkins CO at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 37°F (3°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.
Other NTSB records under N14BA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.