Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 12, 2007, at 1415 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180, N4719B, piloted by a private pilot, lost engine power, departed controlled flight and impacted the ground 1 mile south of the Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB), Pueblo, Colorado, approximately 1330.

According to the pilot, the airplane was on final approach for runway 35R (10,001 feet X 100 feet) and had been cleared to land. Then the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot tried to restart the engine but was unable to get it started again. The pilot said he spotted a path on the golf course below him and tried to land on it.

Witnesses on the golf course said they saw the airplane flying "low" and "erratic." One witness said he saw the airplane just as it was approaching the interstate, pull up and bank left. Another witness said she "saw a red plane start to weave and the nose first then the tail start to come down. The engine was not running. It (the airplane) landed nose first into the rough."

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and glider ratings. The pilot reported having 1,897.6 total flying hours and 694.6 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. The pilot also reported having flown 10.4 hours within the previous 90 days and 5.3 hours within the previous 30 days. The pilot's records showed he had completed a flight review on December 5, 2006. The pilot also held a Class 3 medical certificate dated September 1, 2006. The certificate showed limitations/waivers stating "Holder shall wear lenses that correct for distance vision, and possess glasses that correct for near vision while exercising the privileges of his/her airman certificate."

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was manufactured in 1955. It was owned and operated by the pilot and used for pleasure flying. The airplane had undergone an annual inspection on November 3, 2006. The airframe time at the annual inspection was 2,290.3 hours. The airframe time at the accident was 2,325.7 hours.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The National Transportation Safety Board on-scene investigation began at 1545.

The airplane was located in a field adjacent to the Meridian Golf Course, approximately 1 mile south of APA. The recorded elevation of the accident site was 5,857 feet. The airplane's fuselage was oriented on a 270-degree magnetic heading.

Preceding the airplane were ground scars and debris field. The accident site began with 2 ground scars located 78 feet east of (behind) the airplane. The first ground scar was approximately 15 feet long and 10 inches wide. It was oriented lengthwise along the 270-degr