Amateur-built BUCCANEER 11 B2B accident near Longmont, Colorado, June 23, 1995
On June 23, 1995 at about 2:15 am local time, a amateur-built BUCCANEER 11 B2B, registered N4093F, was destroyed in an accident near Longmont, Colorado (Vance Brand Municipal 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'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN AIRPLANE MAKE/MODEL, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE, AND OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH UNIDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1995 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · Vance Brand Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BUCCANEER 11 B2B BUCCANEER
- Registration
- N4093F · no longer on the register · serial B2B-K039
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES SAID THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF AT 100 TO 200 FEET ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT BANKED RIGHT IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRASSY FIELD. ONE WITNESS SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN. ANOTHER WITNESS OBSERVED PREVIOUS FLIGHTS AND SAID THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER AFTER TAKEOFF BUT THE PILOT WOULD LAND ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED TIGHT METAL TIES BINDING THE FUEL LINE AGAINST THE STRUCTURE. THE VACUUM-OPERATED FUEL PUMP WAS MOUNTED ON FLEXIBLE PLASTIC STRIPS, ALLOWING IT TO VIBRATE. PERSONNEL WHO EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE REPORTED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE PUMP TO CAVITATE. THE PILOT HAD LOGGED 1.6 HOURS IN THE AIRPLANE 10 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 275 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 25, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,025 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 618 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V2 CO at 2:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from BJC, 16 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4093F 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.