Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during taxi. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
NTSB analysis
The private pilot was cleared by tower to take runway 17 for takeoff, " when a gust of wind picked up the left wing" and rotated the aircraft approximately 45 degrees to the right. The right wing made contact with the runway. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position with the nose on the runway. Substantial damage was confined to the firewall and damage to the right main landing gear, and propeller. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Weather reportedd at the departure airport 10 minutes after the accident indicated winds from 160 degrees at 21 knots with gusts to 30 knots.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA179 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 25, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Denver, Colorado
- Nearest airport
- Centenial Airport (KAPA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C
- N-number
- N75WY
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.