Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C accident near Denver, Colorado, February 25, 2009
On February 25, 2009 at about 11:31 pm local time, a Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C, registered N75WY, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (into takeoff position) near Denver, Colorado (Centenial Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control during taxi. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2009 · about 11:31 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Centenial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C · all A-1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N75WY · registry record · serial 3013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was cleared by tower to take runway 17 for takeoff, " when a gust of wind picked up the left wing" and rotated the aircraft approximately 45 degrees to the right. The right wing made contact with the runway. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position with the nose on the runway. Substantial damage was confined to the firewall and damage to the right main landing gear, and propeller. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Weather reportedd at the departure airport 10 minutes after the accident indicated winds from 160 degrees at 21 knots with gusts to 30 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during taxi (into takeoff position)
- Landing gear collapse during taxi (into takeoff position)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 322 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 113 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAPA Denver CO at 11:31 pm
- Destination: KAPA Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 21 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 10:42 pm from KAPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.