Aviat A-1B accident near Englewood, Colorado, March 15, 2003
On March 15, 2003 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Aviat A-1B, registered N60HY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial Airport). It was an instructional 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 of the airplane, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 2003 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A-1B
- Registration
- N60HY · registry record · serial 2186
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot made a crosswind landing on runway 35L and "encountered a gusty wind" on landing roll. He lost directional control of the airplane and it ground looped to the left. The right wing spar and right aileron were bent. In addition, the right main landing gear collapsed and the fuselage was buckled. The wind was 040 degrees at 7 knots, variable between 010 degrees and 070 degrees.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 83 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 84 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 2003; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 6:00 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 7,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from APA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.