Fairchild 24W-46 and amateur-built GLASAIR-SH2 accident near Brighton, Colorado, June 20, 1992
On June 20, 1992 at about 8:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Fairchild 24W-46 (N81229) and amateur-built GLASAIR-SH2 (N32KW), were involved in the same accident near Brighton, Colorado (Brighton Van-Aire Estates airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1992 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Colorado · Brighton Van-Aire Estates · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Fairchild 24W-46 · all 24W-46s on the register
- Registration
- N81229 · registry record · serial W46-130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built GLASAIR-SH2 GLASAIR-SH
- Registration
- N32KW · registry record · serial 528
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Fairchild 24W-46 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THREE AIRPLANES, A GLASAIR, A FAIRCHILD, AND A PIPER, TAXIED ON THE RUNWAY TO THE END FOR TAKEOFF. THERE WAS NO TAXIWAY. THE PILOTS WERE IN RADIO COMMUNICATION AND HAD AGREED TO THIS PROCEDURE. WHEN THEY REACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PIPER TAXIED OFF ONTO THE GRASS. THE FAIRCHILD PILOT SAW THE PIPER ON THE GRASS BUT DID NOT SEE THE GLASAIR; HOWEVER, HE ASSUMED THE GLASAIR HAD ALSO EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE FAIRCHILD PILOT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 100 FEET THE FAIRCHILD COLLIDED WITH THE GLASAIR.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built GLASAIR-SH2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THREE AIRPLANES, A GLASAIR, A FAIRCHILD, AND A PIPER, TAXIED ON THE RUNWAY TO THE END FOR TAKEOFF. THERE WAS NO TAXIWAY. THE PILOTS WERE IN RADIO COMMUNICATION HAD AGREED TO THIS PROCEDURE. WHEN THEY REACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PIPER TAXIED OFF ONTO THE GRASS. THE FAIRCHILD PILOT SAW THE PIPER ON THE GRASS BUT DID NOT SEE THE GLASAIR; HOWEVER, HE ASSUMED THE GLASAIR HAD ALSO EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE FAIRCHILD PILOT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 100 FEET THE FAIRCHILD COLLIDED WITH THE GLASAIR.
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 for the Fairchild 24W-46 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,323 hours in all; 284 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 1,866 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,328 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1991; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,562 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CO12
- Destination: GXY Greeley CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,950 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DEN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built GLASAIR-SH2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,454 hours in all; 31 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,309 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 288 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,950 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.