On Saturday, July 15, 2017, at approximately 12:57 PM, the Sheriff's Office was notified of an aircraft emergency at the Meadow Lake Airport, located at 12850 E Hwy 24. Deputies from the Sheriff's Office, along with medical and fire fighting personnel from the area, responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, they were informed the pilot was on a take-off run aboard a Glassair II when the plan veered off the runaway, striking a culvert.  The plane spun around and caught fire.  The pilot and passenger were able to exit the plane and were not injured. The fire department extinguished the fire. The cause of the incident may have been a sudden severe gust of wind from an approaching storm front.  

Representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Denver Flight Standards District Office were notified.  It was determined they would not respond to conduct further investigation.  The pilot was authorized to remove the wreckage.