Beech P35 accident near Englewood, Colorado, April 22, 2012
On April 22, 2012, a 1963 Beech P35, registered N8518M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Englewood, Colorado (Centenial Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff after the airplane failed to gain adequate airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2012
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centenial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P35, built 1963 · all P35s on the register
- Registration
- N8518M · no longer on the register · serial D-7188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he focused "solely on the airspeed" indicator during takeoff and that the airplane was slow to gain airspeed. He observed the airspeed needle enter the white band and then the bottom of the green band by the end of the runway. The airplane became airborne but did not gain altitude. The pilot saw the perimeter fence, increased the pitch of the airplane, and then heard the stall warning sound. The airplane hit the fence and then impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded 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 engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 265 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 265 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from APA
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.