Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Englewood, Colorado, April 8, 1994
On April 8, 1994 at about 7:17 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N881GK, was destroyed in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1994 · about 7:17 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N881GK · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887175
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF AT 1210 WITH 90 GALS OF FUEL ONBOARD. AS THE PILOTS WERE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CFI ASSUMED CONTROL AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN AREA WEST OF THE RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR A FENCE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE FENCE, THEN COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES WERE LATER FUNCTIONALLY CHECKED AND TESTED; NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,233 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,932 as pilot in command; 2,990 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,397 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 19, 1994; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: P.C. Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: APA at 6:10 pm
- Destination: APA CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:19 pm from APA
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.