Stevens Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147
Friday, September 10, 1982 15:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DUE TO AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM FROM THE WEST, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 04 WITH A QUARTERING TAIL WIND. THE SURFACE WAS WET AND THERE WAS ABOUT A 20 FT RISE IN THE LAST HALF OF THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY WAS 5600 FT LONG, BUT ITS ELEVATION WAS 7674 FT AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 65 DEG. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS AT ABOUT MID-FIELD DURING THE TAKEOFF, HE HAD ACCELERATED TO 60 KTS, BUT THE HILL AT THE EAST END WOULD HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FLY OFF, SO HE DECIDED TO ABORT. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING WET RUNWAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND DOWN A ROCKY SLOPE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City PAGOSA SPRINGS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81147
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport STEVENS FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2VI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 65
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2435
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N123EZ
NTSB Number DEN82FTE27
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name VARI-EZE
Aircraft Model
Aircraft Series Identifier
Aircraft Serial Number 802
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 271
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRUCE M. MUIRHEAD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 458 HANDICAP AVE.
Aircraft Owner City PAGOSA SPRINGS
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BRUCE M. MUIRHEAD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 458 HANDICAP AVE.
Operator City PAGOSA SPRINGS
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 2VI
Departure City PAGOSA SPRINGS
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IV5
Destination City BOULDER
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 5600
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --