Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Englewood, Colorado 80110
Monday, September 11, 2000 9:42 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was cleared to takeoff on runway 17L; the wind was 260 degrees at 10 knots, and the density altitude was 8,177 feet. Shortly after the airplane became airborne, the controller transmitted to the pilot, "you appear to be low to the terrain." The pilot responded by saying, "this is 90R, we're not climbing worth Gra_." Witnesses said that the airplane flew approximately 1 mile south of the departure end of runway 17L and then turned eastbound. They then observed the airplane, which was flying low and slow, enter a steep turn to the north and then impact the ground. The witnesses said that they could hear the airplane's engine right up until the time it hit the ground. Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact engine or airframe anomalies, which might have affected the airplane's performance. According to the Owner's Handbook, under the accident conditions, the airplane was capable of a maximum climb rate of approximately 340 feet per minute.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in a collision with terrain. A contributing factor was the high-density altitude weather condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 942
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ENGLEWOOD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80110
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID APA
Elevation of weather observation facility 5883
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 75
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 30
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8177
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11231
NTSB Notification Source DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF
NTSB Notification Date Sep 11 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1054
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2002 7:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2190R
NTSB Number DEN00FA169
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-5483
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 21 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 3727
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TIMOTHY & DENISE HOWE
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City NEOSHO
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 64850
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code APA
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 949
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EOS
Destination City NEOSHO
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 1 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --