Piper PA-28-180 accident near Englewood, Colorado, August 5, 1995
On August 5, 1995 at about 3:16 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N15621, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE 6 KNOT CROSSWIND. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INITIATING AN ABORTED LANDING AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1995 · about 3:16 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N15621 · registry record · serial 28-7305100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON RUNWAY 17L, WHICH IS 10,001 FEET LONG AND 100 FEET WIDE. THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT SAID HE FAILED TO APPLY SUFFICIENT AILERON INTO THE RIGHT CROSSWIND AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE LEFT OF CENTERLINE. THE PILOT HESITATED TO INITIATE AN ABORTED LANDING BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY EDGE. HE THEN DECIDED TO ABORT THE LANDING AND APPLIED FULL POWER. AS THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR STRUCK A TAXIWAY SIGN. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. A WEATHER OBSERVATION MADE SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT INDICATED THE WINDS WERE FROM 200 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL OF 48 HOURS FLIGHT TIME.
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: 48 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Altitudes, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 2:15 pm
- Destination: APA CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17L, 10,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from APA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.