Boeing A75 accident near Denver, Colorado, April 26, 2021
On April 26, 2021 at about 7:46 pm local time, a 1936 Boeing A75, registered N56760, 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; 1 person was 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 during the landing roll with variable and gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2021 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Centennial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75, built 1936 · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N56760 · registry record · serial 75-017
- 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, during landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and as the tailwheel touched down on the runway, the airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane veered hard to the left and exited the left side of the runway, despite the pilot’s use of right rudder and braking. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the top left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 28 with wind reported as variable 050 o to 290o with gusts to 20 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,725 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 14,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,345 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.59 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 8, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | On Scene Photos - Courtesy of Airport Operations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Email - Federal Aviation Administration | 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.
Other NTSB records under N56760 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.