Cessna 172 accident near Centennial, Colorado, August 16, 2009
On August 16, 2009 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N22265, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Centennial, Colorado (Centennial Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare in crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2009 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Centennial, Colorado · Centennial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N22265 · registry record · serial 172S10026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot implemented crosswind landing procedures to include a left crab angle of approximately seven degrees. While on final approach to land on Runway 17R, the winds were reported as being from 120 degrees at 15 knots. Upon reaching the runway threshold, the pilot transitioned the airplane to a left side slip and aligned with the runway. During the flare, the left main wheel touched the runway and the airplane "weather vaned" to the left. The pilot's corrective measures failed to realign the airplane with the runway heading; the airplane flipped inverted and came to rest upside down on the runway, resulting in substantial damage. A special automated weather observation report, taken near the time of the accident, reported the winds as being from 140 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the airplane.
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 landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 157 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 30, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,288 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 14, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCYS Cheyenne WY at 3:15 pm
- Destination: KAPA Centennial CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17R, 7,000 ft by 77 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 4:44 pm from KAPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.