Cessna 180K accident near Englewood, Colorado, September 2, 1989
On September 2, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N2705K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Contennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Contennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2705K · registry record · serial 18053040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT & A PSGR WERE MAKING A LOCAL FLT. THE PLT SAID HE PLANNED A TOUCH & GO LANDING ON RWY 17R WITH WINDS FROM 280 DEG AT 4 KTS. HE SAID THAT AT TOUCHDOWN, HE FELT A 'SHIMMY' FROM THE TAILWHEEL. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SHIMMY BY RELAXING THE BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL YOKE. HE THEN REAPPLIED THE BACK PRESSURE & LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RWY TO THE RIGHT & GROUND LOOPED. THE LEFT WING, STABILIZER & ELEVATOR WERE DAMAGED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,960 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,780 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA at 8:50 pm
- Destination: APA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 7,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N2705K 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.