Beech C35 accident near Englewood, Colorado, May 19, 2009
On May 19, 2009 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N1945D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial 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 collapse of the landing gear due to the mechanic's failure to properly wire the landing gear squat switch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2009 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N1945D · no longer on the register · serial D-3223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the airplane's main landing gear partially retracted and the nose landing gear collapsed completely. The airplane's left wing impacted the ground, resulting in structural damage. The airplane came to rest in an upright position on the runway and the pilot and the airplane's mechanic were able to exit the airplane unassisted. Following the accident, an examination of the landing gear revealed that the mechanic had wired the landing gear squat switch incorrectly, resulting in a retraction of the landing gear once the landing strut was extended.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Land gear sys wiring › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,675 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4,806 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,591 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 8:30 pm
- Destination: FTG Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 7,000 ft by 77 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from APA
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.