Cessna 172P accident near Dove Valley, Colorado, April 19, 2026
On April 19, 2026 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna 172P, registered N53265, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Dove Valley, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2026 · about 4:00 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Dove Valley, Colorado · Centennial · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P, built 1981 · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N53265 · registry record · serial 17274714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Jeppesen Employees Flying Association
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from APA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAPA 191553Z 14004KT 10SM CLR 13/M11 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP202 T01281106
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 15, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N53265 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,676 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Centennial Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,857 since 1982 · 381 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,454 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC26LA027.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.