Amateur-built VELOCITY 173RG accident near Longmont, Colorado, June 24, 1996
On June 24, 1996 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VELOCITY 173RG, registered N525V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longmont, Colorado (Vance Brand airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision. Factors relating to the accident were: the high density altitude, and the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1996 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · Vance Brand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VELOCITY 173RG VELOCITY 1
- Registration
- N525V · registry record · serial DMO-248
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the aircraft failed to achieve sufficient airspeed and overran the departure end of runway 29. Density altitude at the time was 7,500 feet. The pilot said he was aware of a high density altitude, and had purposely serviced the airplane with a partial load of fuel. Also, he noted that he had no problem on takeoff from Hattiesburg, Mississippi (elevation 151 feet) or Wichita Falls, Texas (elevation 1,005 feet), and he expected no problem during this takeoff. No pre-accident/mechanical malfunction or failure was noted during the investigation.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 953 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 766 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 9, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V2 at 3:30 pm
- Destination: SLN Salina KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,130 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:46 pm from BJC, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N525V 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.