Cessna 170B accident near Englewood, Colorado, April 22, 1990
On April 22, 1990 at about 8:03 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N8074A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Continennial 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING. THE CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1990 · about 8:03 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Continennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8074A · registry record · serial 20926
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS LANDING ON RWY 28. HE ESTIMATED THE WINDS WERE FROM 210 DEG AT 15 KTS. THE LANDING APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE LEFT WING STARTED TO RISE. THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT 'GET ON THE RUDDER QUICK ENOUGH' AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO GROUNDLOOP TO THE LEFT. THE PLT SAID HE 'PROBABLY HIT BRAKES NEAR EDGE OF RWY, CAUSING PLANE TO NOSE OVER.'
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: 299 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 249 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1990; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHX La Junta CO at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,903 ft by 62 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from APA
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.