Centennial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Englewood, Colorado 80112
Tuesady, October 16, 1990 14:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A STUDENT PILOT MADE A LANDING ON RUNWAY 28. DURING LANDING ROLL, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE PLANE STRUCK A FOUR FOOT EMBANKMENT AND TORE THE LEFT WING LOOSE AT THE ROOT. THE LEFT WING SPAR WAS BENT, THE FUSELAGE TWISTED, AND THE CABIN TOP CRUSHED. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT A GUST STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT HOWEVER, THE WEATHER OBSERVATION DID NOT RECORD ANY GUSTS DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8 KNOTS, WELL WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/16/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ENGLEWOOD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80112
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CENTENNIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID APA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 5883
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1357 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID APA
Elevation of weather observation facility 5883
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1291
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42468
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5523Z
NTSB Number DEN91LA008
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7846
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RONALD M. LEWARK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 158 0195 PINE DR.
Operator City FRISCO
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80443
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 No
Departure Airport Code 3V4
Departure City FT. MORGAN
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code APA
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 4903
Runway Width 62
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --