Piper PA-230-250 accident near Englewood, Colorado, November 9, 1985
On November 9, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-230-250, registered N1909T, was destroyed in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 9, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-230-250
- Registration
- N1909T · no longer on the register · serial 27-2958
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD NEW AVIONICS AND AUTOPILOT SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NTAP DATA INDICATED THAT THE ACFT DID NOT ATTAIN THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 8200 FT PRIOR TO REACHING THE OUTER MARKER. THE ACFT DID NOT GET ESTABLISHED ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE FOR RWY 34R AND THE RATE OF DESCENT INCREASED AFTER PASSAGE OF THE OUTER MARKER. THE ACFT IMPACTED HILLY TERRAIN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS IN THE UP POSITION, APRX 1 MILE NORTH OF THE MARKER. POST CRASH EXAM OF ACFT REVEALED NO. 1 NAV RADIO WAS TUNED TO 117.0, THE DENVER VOR FREQ. THE STANDBY NAV FREQ WAS 111.3, THE LOCALIZER FREQ FOR RWY 34R. THE INBOUND HEADING FOR 34R IS 347 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,231 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,004 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1985; 128 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLE Omaha NE at 5:24 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34R, 10,000 ft by 101 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from APA, 4 miles away
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.