# NTSB DEN87DTE01: Cassutt Sport Racer, N913M, Brighton, CO, October 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1986, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Brighton, CO
- Coordinates: 39.950428, -104.789573 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9504&lon=-104.7896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87DTE01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17063/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87DTE01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise - normal
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - unlocked (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE DID NOT PROPERLY LOCK THE CANOPY & IT CAME OPEN DRG FLT AT 7000 FT MSL. HE REDUCED THE SPEED & ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE CANOPY, BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. HE DIVERTED & ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE VAN AIRE ARPT WHILE HOLDING THE CANOPY WITH HIS LEFT HAND. THE THROTTLE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. WHILE PREPARING TO LAND, THE PLT HELD THE STICK BTN HIS LEGS & REACHED OVER WITH HIS RGT HAND TO REDUCE THE THROTTLE SETTING. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT LOST SPEED FASTER THAN THE PLT EXPECTED & BEGAN TO STALL AS IT WAS CROSSING OVER A POND JUST SHORT OF THE RWY. THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE WATER & THE ACFT CARTWHEELED & CAME TO REST IN THE POND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N913M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N913M-2006-01-24), registration cancelled 2006-01-24, S/N 097160062, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CASSUTT SPORT RACER (SPORT RACE)
- Registry model: [Cassutt SPORT RACER](https://openairdocs.org/model/cassutt-sport-racer) (registry code 19704JC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental PC60-6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-pc60-6) (registry code 17010, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 097160062
- Airframe hours: 535
- Engines: CONTINENTAL PC60-6 70 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth R. Meister
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1986, 5 hours before
- Departed: 2V2, LONGMONT, CO
- Destination: 01V, AURORA, CO
- Airport: 2V2, Van Aire, runway 12, 3,950 × 50 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 594 total, 525 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 10 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19861004047789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861004047789A), Oct 4, 1986: Amtrsx CASSUTT1, Brighton, CO, Substantial damage. Canopy became unlatched during flight. Stalled aircraft while attempting a return to airport while holding canopy.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.