Tecnam P92 accident near Englewood, Colorado, February 21, 2019
On February 21, 2019 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2009 Tecnam P92, registered N108TE, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, because the airplane wreckage was sold and relocated before the engine could be examined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2019 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Tecnam P92 EA, built 2009
- Registration
- N108TE · no longer on the register · serial 1226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the student pilot’s initial takeoff, the airplane would not climb or maintain a climbing attitude, so the instructor took control of the airplane, retracted the flaps, and reduced the attitude in order to gain airspeed. Due to the loss of engine power, the instructor turned to land on another runway, but the airplane descended and impacted a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and the engine separated from the airplane. Because the wreckage was sold and moved before examination by the National Transportation Safety Board, investigators could not rule out a mechanical malfunction, and the reason of the loss of climb performance could not be determined.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 460.5 hours in all; 2.2 in this make and model; 7.8 in the last 90 days; 31.1 in the last 30 days; 351.8 as pilot in command; 75.1 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 23, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,026.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 28, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aspen Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 9:30 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KAPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 3, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Mfr Wreckage Unavailable | 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.