Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B accident near Centennial, Colorado, July 2, 2010
On July 2, 2010 at about 8:41 pm local time, a Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B, registered N80HY, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Centennial, 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the certified flight instructor's delay in remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2010 · about 8:41 pm local time
- Place
- Centennial, Colorado · Centennial 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-1B · all A-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N80HY · registry record · serial 2288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot student were conducting tailwheel certification training. During the third flight of the day, after practicing 3-point landings, the student pilot was performing an additional 3-point landing after having just practiced main wheel landings. The CFI described the pattern and approach as being normal. During the roll out and while slowing the airplane down, it began to drift left. The CFI called for right rudder and the airplane began drifting right of centerline. After calling for left rudder the CFI attempted to regain control using rudder and power. The airplane entered a violent turn to the left, exited the runway, and flipped over going down an embankment. The right wing spar and horizontal stabilizer were bent.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 19,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 65 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Centennial CO
- Destination: APA Centennial CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.