Beech 1900 accident near Denver, Colorado, June 3, 2021
On June 3, 2021 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1984 Beech 1900, registered N219VP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 properly configure the airplane for landing, which resulted in a gear-up landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2021 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 1900, built 1984 · all 1900s on the register
- Registration
- N219VP · registry record · serial UB-14
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, on final approach, he lowered the landing gear, placed the propeller controls forward, confirmed that the landing gear position indicator lights illuminated green, and completed the before landing checklist. He stated that he felt the drag associated with the gear being extended, but the airplane was not slowing as much as usual. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the pilot heard radio transmissions from the controller and another airplane to check the landing gear configuration, and he stated that he saw three green lights. He reported that the landing was smooth and felt normal; however, the airplane settled onto the runway and within a few seconds, the propellers impacted the ground. Airport surveillance video indicated that the airplane’s landing gear remained fully retracted during the approach and over the runway just before touchdown. Postaccident examination of the landing gear and landing gear indicating/warning system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to properly configure the landing gear before landing.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,905 hours in all; 816 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 2,015 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 41,944.3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 16,600 lb
- Seats: 19
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B (turboprop); 32,254 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B (turboprop); 22,117 hours total
- Operator: Alpine Air Express
The flight
- Departed from: RWL Rawlins WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17R, 12,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from DEN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on August 8, 2022. 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 - Pilot | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | radar Playback | video | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Surveillance Video | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum of Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Log | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.