Boeing 757-222 incident near Denver, Colorado, May 4, 1992
On May 4, 1992 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Boeing 757-222, registered N530UA, was involved in an incident near Denver, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was killed; 61 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CAPTAIN SUFFERED A FATAL HEART ATTACK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1992 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 61 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-222 · all 757-222s on the register
- Registration
- N530UA · no longer on the register · serial 25043
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CAPTAIN HAD POSITIONED THE AIRPLANE AT THE TAXIWAY HOLD LINE, SET THE BRAKES, AND WAS WAITING TAKEOFF CLEARANCE WHEN THE FIRST OFFICER NOTICED HE WAS SLUMPED OVER AND MAKING A 'GURGLING NOISE.' A PHYSICIAN ON BOARD, ASSISTED BY A FLIGHT ATTENDANT, ADMINISTERED CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION. THE CAPTAIN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON ARRIVAL AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,749 hours in all; 679 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 230,000 lb
- Seats: 194
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W 2037M (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: United Airlines
The flight
- Destination: PHL Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 6 | ||
| Passengers | 55 |
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.