Cessna 182R accident near Englewood, Colorado, July 21, 2002
On July 21, 2002 at about 9:37 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N6271N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in-command's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper remedial action, and the second pilot's inadequate monitoring of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2002 · about 9:37 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6271N · no longer on the register · serial 18267815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The wind was from 030 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots, as the pilot made a simulated ILS approach to runway 35R. At decision height, the pilot transitioned to a visual approach and reduced power slightly to facilitate his descent and flared. The airplane ballooned and the pilot added a little power and maintained the attitude. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and came down on the nose wheel. He applied full power to reject the landing and the airplane began drifting to the left of the runway. The safety pilot took control of the airplane and returned it to the runway centerline. When the airplane touched down, it veered to the left, departed the runway, and skidded to a halt.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,099 hours in all; 632 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,036 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 497 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 446 as pilot in command; 23 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,822 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 2002; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
The flight
- Departed from: 1V6 Canon City at 8:55 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Runway 35R, 10,002 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from APA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.