Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Englewood, Colorado, September 28, 1986
On September 28, 1986 at about 5:04 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N3482M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 28, 1986 · about 5:04 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3482M · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7837117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT AND THERE PAX WERE DEPARTING FOR A LCL FLT. THE PLT STATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT HE LEANED THE MIXTURE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE ROTATED THE ACFT AT 65 KTS, AND DURING THE CLIMB THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE STALL COND BY LOWERING THE NOSE. THE PLT SAID HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN FLT AND LANDED IN AN OPEN AREA OFF THE END OF RUNWAY 17L. THE LANDING GEAR SEPARATED DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE. PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE A ROTATION SPEED OF 68 KTS WAS NEEDED FOR FLT. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE 050 DEGREES AT 08 KTS. THE PLT'S TOTAL TIME WAS 108 HRS WITH 13 IN M&M.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 1986; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17L, 10,000 ft by 101 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:01 pm from APA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.