Beech D18-S accident near Englewood, Colorado, May 18, 1991
On May 18, 1991 at about 11:57 pm local time, a Beech D18-S, registered N44623, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS WERE: THE CROSS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO LOCK THE TAIL WHEEL, AND THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF CROSSWIND LIMITATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1991 · about 11:57 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D18-S · all D18-Ss on the register
- Registration
- N44623 · no longer on the register · serial A-31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PART 135 OPERATION, THE PILOT TAXIED INTO POSITION, CHECKED THE TAIL WHEEL LOCKING LEVER, AND COMMENCED THE TAKEOFF RUN IN GUSTING WINDS. THE GUSTS EXCEEDED THE CROSS WIND LIMITS FOR THE AIRCRAFT. THE TAIL WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DITCH.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 835 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 4,683 as pilot in command; 4,500 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: 10,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: W. W. Airtaxi, INC.
The flight
- Destination: MCI Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 10,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.