Amateur-built BEARHAWK accident near Calhan, Colorado, October 7, 2016
On October 7, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2016 amateur-built BEARHAWK, registered N507SR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Calhan, Colorado (Calhan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Calhan, Colorado · Calhan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BEARHAWK 4 Place, built 2016
- Registration
- N507SR · no longer on the register · serial 003-5/6-507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a touch-and-go landing on a turf airstrip, he applied power for takeoff, the airplane drifted left, and he applied right aileron and left rudder. As the airplane accelerated, it began drifting farther left until it departed the runway onto the grass. The pilot reported that the airspeed was about 60 mph and that he felt he could fly out of the situation. However, he realized the airplane was approaching a hill with trees and a house too quickly and would not clear the trees. He then applied right rudder and the airplane turned 90° toward the runway and began to skid. The airplane skidded across the runway and hit a ditch. The left landing gear collapsed followed by the right, and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 14 miles southwest of the accident site revealed that, at 1255, the wind was from 190° at 13 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The airplane landed on runway 17.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,300 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 7,800 as pilot in command; 1,250 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 23, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39.5 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, September 21, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B (piston); 40 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LIC Limon CO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 5V4 Calhan CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,565 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KFLY, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.