Textron Aviation INC 172S accident near Englewood, Colorado, September 2, 2023
On September 2, 2023 at about 11:54 am local time, a 2020 Textron Aviation INC 172S, registered N20818, 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). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with multiple geese during initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2023 · about 11:54 am local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC 172S, built 2020
- Registration
- N20818 · registry record · serial 172S12579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and his student were conducting an instructional flight in the airport traffic pattern when the airplane collided with multiple geese during initial climb. Due to the collision, the engine experienced a loss of engine power, so the flight instructor continued straight ahead. He conducted a forced landing on a golf course and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings.
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
- Birdstrike during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 325.1 hours in all; 299.7 in this make and model; 92.6 in the last 90 days; 59.7 in the last 30 days; 233.2 as pilot in command; 47.9 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 14, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 1,965 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17L, 10,001 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 am from KAPA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAPA 021253Z 18004KT 10SM FEW100 SCT140 SCT220 18/08 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP147 T01780078
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 17, 2023. 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Video - Bird Strike | video | 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 N20818 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.