Beech B35-A33 accident near Castle Rock, Colorado, December 16, 1989
On December 16, 1989 at about 8:44 pm local time, a Beech B35-A33, registered N477T, was destroyed in an accident near Castle Rock, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL AS A RESULT OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1989 · about 8:44 pm local time
- Place
- Castle Rock, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35-A33 · all B35-A33s on the register
- Registration
- N477T · registry record · serial CD-305
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A VFR FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED BUT, WHILE ENROUTE TO DENVER IT WAS CHANGED TO AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THE WEATHER HAD DETERIORATED TO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED A CLEARANCE FOR AN ILS APPROACH INTO CENTENNIAL AIRPORT, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, BUT DURING THE APPROACH HE SAID THAT HE WAS '...ALL TURNED AROUND AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE PILOT AND THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT. A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED AND THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SHORTLY AFTER DAYBREAK THE FOLLOWING MORNING. RADAR INFORMATION CONFIRMED THAT THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN CIRCLES AND HAD NOT ESTABLISHED HIMSELF ON THE APPROACH.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,554 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,353 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,921 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1989; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DHT Dalhart TX
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 35R, 10,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from APA, 8 miles away
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.
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.