Beech 58 accident near Denver, Colorado, February 16, 2015
On February 16, 2015 at about 5:45 am local time, a 1982 Beech 58, registered N297AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Denver, Colorado (Centenial Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a rejected takeoff from a slush-covered runway at night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2015 · about 5:45 am local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Centenial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58, built 1982 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N297AT · no longer on the register · serial TH1349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after the cargo was loaded onto the airplane for the night flight, he performed a contamination check of the airplane, and the airplane was free of contamination. After performing the run-up checks, the pilot activated the anti-ice systems and taxied onto the runway; he noted that air traffic control had reported about an hour before the accident that about 1/2 inch of wet snow had accumulated on the runway and that the runway surface was unplowed and "slushy." He started the takeoff roll and, as the airplane rotated, slush from the runway hit the windshield, and the pilot lost all forward visibility. Once airborne, the airplane drifted left, and the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. The pilot reported that he "had difficulty maintaining directional control" and that he tried to land the airplane back on the runway, but it impacted the side of the runway and struck a runway light. Once the airplane was stopped on the runway, he taxied it back to the hangar. The examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 control in flight during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Windows › windshield system › Flight compartment windows › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,465 hours in all; 699 in this make and model; 228 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,851 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 29, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-520-CB41B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO-520-CB41B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gta Air Inc
The flight
- Departed from: APA Denver CO at 5:19 am
- Destination: SUS Chesterfield MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17L, 10,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 am 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.