Vance Brand Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Longmont, Colorado 80501
Monday, June 24, 1996 9:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper planning/decision. Factors relating to the accident were: the high density altitude, and the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City LONGMONT
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80501
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport VANCE BRAND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2V2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 290
Airport Elevation 5052
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 946 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5671
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 7500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 256
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 24 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 940
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N525V
NTSB Number FTW96LA273
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WILLIAMS
Aircraft Model VELOCITY 173RG
Aircraft Series Identifier VELOCITY 1
Aircraft Serial Number DMO-248
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Mar 9 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 61
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM RICHARDS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3435 HWY 414
Aircraft Owner City MELBOURNE BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32951
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 2V2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLN
Destination City SALINA
Destination State KS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 5130
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --