Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Brighton, Colorado, February 25, 1995
On February 25, 1995 at about 8:59 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N872MM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brighton, Colorado. It was a personal 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
A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1995 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N872MM · no longer on the register · serial 872
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING TO A PLOWED FIELD. THE LANDING GEAR DUG IN AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS BEING USED IN THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME. AN FAA INSPECTOR, WHO EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT, FOUND NO EVIDENCE AS TO WHY THE ENGINE LOST POWER.
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: 666 hours in all; 490 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 734 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 20, 1994; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CO12 at 8:59 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from DEN, 20 miles away
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.