Piper PA-28-180 accident near Englewood, Colorado, September 11, 2000
On September 11, 2000 at about 3:42 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N2190R, was destroyed in an accident near Englewood, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in a collision with terrain. A contributing factor was the high-density altitude weather condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2000 · about 3:42 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2190R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5483
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was cleared to takeoff on runway 17L; the wind was 260 degrees at 10 knots, and the density altitude was 8,177 feet. Shortly after the airplane became airborne, the controller transmitted to the pilot, "you appear to be low to the terrain." The pilot responded by saying, "this is 90R, we're not climbing worth Gra_." Witnesses said that the airplane flew approximately 1 mile south of the departure end of runway 17L and then turned eastbound. They then observed the airplane, which was flying low and slow, enter a steep turn to the north and then impact the ground. The witnesses said that they could hear the airplane's engine right up until the time it hit the ground. Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact engine or airframe anomalies, which might have affected the airplane's performance. According to the Owner's Handbook, under the accident conditions, the airplane was capable of a maximum climb rate of approximately 340 feet per minute.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 535 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,727 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 2000; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA at 4:49 pm
- Destination: EOS Neosho MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 86°F (30°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from APA, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.