Casualties unknown

Runway Landing Error Leads to Collision at Airshow Event (N44AZ)

Englewood, CO, US

On May 11, 1996, a Jerrell RV-4 (registration N44AZ) was involved in an aviation accident near Englewood, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the pilot of the RV-4, N44AZ, to comply with an ATC clearance by landing on the wrong runway, and the failure of the pilot of the SU-29, N55SU, to maintain an adequate visual lookout. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During an airshow open house, an RV-4 mistakenly landed on the wrong runway and was struck by a Sukhoi SU-29 that was landing on the correct runway.

Incident Sequence

The pilot of the RV-4, N44AZ, made initial contact with the control tower on the west arrival frequency and was instructed to report entering a right downwind for runway 17R, which he acknowledged. At about the same time, the pilot of the Sukhoi SU-29, N55SU, made initial contact with the control tower on the east arrival frequency and was instructed to report on a left base for runway 17L. Both pilots were subsequently cleared to land on their respective runways. Instead of landing on his assigned runway 17R, the pilot of the RV-4 landed on 17L. The SU-29 then landed on top of the RV-4.

Aircraft Information

The aircraft involved were an RV-4, registration N44AZ, and a Sukhoi SU-29, registration N55SU. The RV-4 was instructed to land on runway 17R, while the SU-29 was instructed to land on runway 17L. The threshold of runway 17R is 1,800 feet beyond the threshold of runway 17L.

Airport and Event

The airport was hosting an open house at the time, and airborne flights from a 'Parade of Flight' were in progress. The FAA's ATC handbook advises controllers to restate the landing runway whenever there is a possibility of a conflict with another aircraft which is using or planning to use another runway.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05746. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.