NTSB CAROL · Event
Event DEN85LTE04
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
AFTER TAKING OFF, THE PLT NOTED THAT THE ACFT'S CG HAD SHIFTED, & AS FUEL WAS CONSUMED, THE ELEVATOR DOWN AUTHORITY SEEM TO DECAY. HE SUSPECTED THAT BAGGAGE (STOWED BEHIND THE PLT'S SEAT & INACCESSIBLE DURING FLT) HAD SHIFTED AFT REQUIRING GREATER THAN USUAL FORWARD STICK PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT. ALSO, HE STATED THAT DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE HOME BUILT ACFT, THE MAIN WHEEL BRAKES WERE LOCKED IN FLT BECAUSE OF VIBRATION. WHEN THE PLT LANDED AT RAWLINS, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CG SITUATION & FORGOT TO UNLOCK THE MAIN WHEEL BRAKES. DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT VEERED LEFT ONTO DIRT TERRAIN, CROSSED A DITCH & CAME TO REST WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1985_DEN85LTE04.txt.
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