Cessna 421 accident near Englewood, Colorado, May 1, 1991
On May 1, 1991 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Cessna 421, registered N18DF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS ON BOTH ENGINES AS A RESULT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1991 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- N18DF · no longer on the register · serial 421-126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A HIGH ALTITUDE AIRPORT AND AT A GROSS WEIGHT 70 POUNDS BELOW MAXIMUM, BOTH ENGINE LOST INPUT TO THEIR TURBOCHARGERS DUE TO EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE. AT THE REDUCED POWER AVAILABLE, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND CONDUCTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE TERRAIN WAS ROLLING, SOFT, AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING ROLL. THE ENGINE NACELLES AND UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE DAMAGED AS THE AIRCRAFT SLID DURING THE FINAL PHASE OF DECELERATION.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,600 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 6,200 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,840 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-5200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: K61 Belott KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:45 am from APA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.