# NTSB DEN90LA061: North American T-6G, N2879G, Englewood, CO, March 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 11, 1990, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.579887, -104.859642 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5799&lon=-104.8596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17894
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17894/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA061

## Probable cause

TO BE A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID HE LEANED THE ENGINE IMPROPERLY, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE 'LOAD UP' DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. HE SAID HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE PLANE STRUCK A SNOW BANK AND NOSED OVER. HE REPORTED THE PROPELLER, CANOPY, LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, RIGHT WING AND VERTICAL STABILIZER WERE BENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE IMPROPER LEANING CAUSED POWER SURGES THAT INITIATED THE LOSS OF CONTROL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2879G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2879G-2013-11-15), registration cancelled 2013-11-15, S/N 49-2996A, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-6G
- Registry model: [North American T-6G](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-6g) (registry code 6400432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49-2996A
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce A. Grassfield
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: APA
- Destination: APA
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 10, 4,903 × 62 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,200 total, 30 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900311003709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900311003709A), Mar 11, 1990: Namer T6G, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Failed to lean mixture for altitude on takeoff. Lost control when engine surged. Ran into snowbank and nosed over.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.