North American T-6G accident near Englewood, Colorado, March 11, 1990
On March 11, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a North American T-6G, registered N2879G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TO BE A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-6G · all T-6Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2879G · no longer on the register · serial 49-2996A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE LEANED THE ENGINE IMPROPERLY, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE 'LOAD UP' DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. HE SAID HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE PLANE STRUCK A SNOW BANK AND NOSED OVER. HE REPORTED THE PROPELLER, CANOPY, LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, RIGHT WING AND VERTICAL STABILIZER WERE BENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE IMPROPER LEANING CAUSED POWER SURGES THAT INITIATED THE LOSS OF CONTROL.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: APA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,903 ft by 62 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.