Piper PA 28-181 accident near Denver, Colorado, July 31, 2017
On July 31, 2017 at about 5:58 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA 28-181, registered N2146R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Denver, 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2017 · about 5:58 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-181, built 1979 · all PA 28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2146R · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that the airplane veered right while landing earlier in the day. During the accident landing, the airplane again veered right when the nosewheel touched down on the runway and then exited the runway into grass. While the pilot was attempting to steer the airplane back onto the runway, it hit a runway sign, which separated the right main landing gear from the airplane. The right wing contacted the ground, and the airplane veered right again and then came to rest in the grass alongside the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll)
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 › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,673 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 8, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 10,673 hours total
- Operator: Aspen Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 5:10 pm
- Destination: APA Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35R, 10,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from APA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 18, 2018. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Record | 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.
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.