Piaggio P180 accident near Broomfield, Colorado, February 13, 2020
On February 13, 2020 at about 4:15 am local time, a 1992 Piaggio P180, registered N677P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Broomfield, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Metropolitan airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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 loss of directional control on the snow-covered runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2020 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Rocky Mountain Metropolitan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piaggio P180 AVANTI, built 1992 · all P180s on the register
- Registration
- N677P · registry record · serial 1019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was making an instrument approach at night in instrument meteorological conditions. The control tower advised that packed snow and moderate braking were reported on the runway. The pilot reported that the approach was on speed and the airplane initially touched down smoothly. When the nosewheel touched down, the airplane yawed to the left, and the pilot’s efforts to maintain directional control were not successful. The airplane slid on the surface, departed the left side of the runway, and spun around, then the right wing tip and canard contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, canard, and aileron. Postaccident examination revealed both nose gear tires were deflated, and the right main tire had low air pressure. However, the pilot did not report any pre-accident mechanical malfunction or anomaly with the airplane that may 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,829 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,704 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 22, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,256 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 12,100 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A SER (turboprop); 5,316 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6-66 (turboprop); 5,316 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 1:45 am
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30R, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:28 am from BJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.