Amateur-built DC-10 accident near Denver, Colorado, November 19, 1982
On November 19, 1982 at about 3:00 am local time, a amateur-built DC-10, registered N68056, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Stapelton Int'L. airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 136 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1982 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Stapelton Int'L. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 136 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DC-10
- Registration
- N68056 · no longer on the register · serial 47810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, THE CREW NOTED A HYDRAULIC MALFUNCTION ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND RETURNED TO THE GATE FOR MAINTENANCE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND TURNED OVER TO THE MAINTENANCE CREW FOR REPAIR. THE PASSENGERS WERE NOT DEPLANED. DURING MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE HYDRAULIC LEAK, THE GEAR HANDLE WAS RAISED WITHOUT THE GEAR LOCKING PINS INSTALLED. THIS ALLOWED THE NOSE GEAR TO RETRACT AND THE NOSE SETTLED ONTO A PARKED TUG. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE APPLICABLE CHECKLIST WAS NOT USED AND POSITIVE COMMUNICATIONS WERE NOT ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL IN THE COCKPIT AND THOSE ON THE GROUND.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 555,000 lb
- Seats: 380
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Gen.Electric CF6-5C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Air Lines, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Denver CO
- Destination: Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 113°F (45°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 16 | |||
| Passengers | 120 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N68056 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.