Piper PA-31-350 accident near Denver, Colorado, July 15, 1997
On July 15, 1997 at about 10:45 am local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N800SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Denver International airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate visual lookout by the bus driver. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness and bright background lighting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1997 · about 10:45 am local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N800SA · registry record · serial 31-8152012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing, while taxiing to park in the air freight area of the airport, the aircraft was struck by an employee shuttle bus. The shuttle bus was in transit on a service road that crossed the taxiway. This occurred on a dark night in an area with bright background lights. According to information provided by Airport Operations, the bus failed to yield a right-of-way at an airport road/ramp taxiway crossing.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,530 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 1997; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Check Transport, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO
- Destination: DEN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from DVX, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.