North American SNJ-5 accident near Simla, Colorado, July 9, 2009
On July 9, 2009 at about 6:55 pm local time, a North American SNJ-5, registered N212TC, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Simla, Colorado (Centenial Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while practicing aerobatic maneuvers and his subsequent failure to recover from an inadvertent spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2009 · about 6:55 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Simla, Colorado · Centenial Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-5 · all SNJ-5s on the register
- Registration
- N212TC · registry record · serial 12141732
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers for approximately 15 minutes. They could not estimate how high the airplane was flying, but indicated it was too high to make out details on the airplane. They observed the airplane pull up vertical and perform a wing over or roll type maneuver. The airplane then entered a spin, which continued until the airplane impacted the ground. A post impact fire erupted immediately after impact. Each witness described the engine running until impact. During examination of the wreckage no anomalies were found with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
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 in flight during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (aerobatics)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,232 hours in all; 637 in this make and model; 584 in the last 90 days; 2,090 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 13, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1340 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:53 pm from APA, 46 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on April 27, 2010. 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 | Witness Statements - Police/written | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Jones | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Shelton | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - Witness Einspahr | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation - Witness Ruebesam | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Record of Conversation - Witness Paintin | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Miscellaneous T-6 Ops Manual Excert | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Photo-wreckage 1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Photo-wreckage 2 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Photo-wreckage 3 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N212TC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N212TC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- North American SNJ-5 Texan (Navy) 136 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- North American 1,297 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R1340 SERIES 1,229 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Centennial Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N212TC 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN09FA425.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.