Cessna 172P accident near Englewood, Colorado, December 4, 2004
On December 4, 2004 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N55250, 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2004 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N55250 · registry record · serial 17275144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During his third landing, the solo student pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane struck a runway light and taxiway sign and came to rest upright off the left side of the runway. According to the pilot, the approach to runway was normal, and the airplane was aligned with the runway centerline. During the landing, the main landing gears touched down on the runway and then the nose landing gear touched down. Immediately after the nose wheel touched down on the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to steer the airplane back to the right; however, the airplane did not respond to the pilot's rudder pedal inputs. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the airframe or nose wheel steering system.
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: 30 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flights Inc
The flight
- Departed from: APA Denver CO at 5:45 pm
- Destination: APA Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17L, 10,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 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.