Beechcraft P35 Bonanza, N463T, fatal accident occurred on September 5, 2025, near Centennial Airport (APA/KAPA), Denver, Colorado

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6021E

Check 6 LLC

- Hitstory of Flight:
On September 5, 2025, at about 0622 local time, a Beechcraft P35 Bonanza, N463T, registered to Check 6 LLC out of Spearfish, South Dakota, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Centennial Airport (APA/KAPA), Denver, Colorado. The two occupants onboard sustained fatal injuries. The local flight originated from KAPA.

According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, on the day of the accident, starting from 0544 LT, the airplane conducted 4 touch and go(es) at the airport. At about 0620 LT, the airplane conducted a touch and go on runway 17L. At 06:21:18, the airplane was 8,000 down the runway when it conducted a go-around. At 0621:51, the airplane was at 6,200 ft, 82 knots groundspeed and climbing about 770 feet per minute (fpm) when it conducted a left turn (crosswind turn) towards the pattern. At 0622:14, the airplane was still climbing 200 fpm through 6,400 ft and 83 knots groundspeed. 2 seconds later, the airplane decelerated to about 78 knots (GS) and a began a descending left hand turn from 6,400 ft. The airplane continued to descend, while maintaining about 80 knots (GS) with a notable increase in the average descend rate. The last ADS-B return was recorded at 0623:04, the airplane was at 5,800 ft, 79 knots groundspeed, and descending 1000 fpm. (figure 1)

Figure 1: ADS-B exchange data ran through Flysto

Figure 2: Accident go-around

- Pilot Information:
unknown at this point.

- Aircraft Information:
The The four-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane, serial number D-7083, was manufactured in 1962. It was powered by a single Continental IO-470-N 260-horsepower engine.

According to the Airplane Flight Manual, the recommended landing approach speed was 69 knots, and the indicated stall speed in the landing configuration was 52 knots. The certificated gross weight for the aircraft is 3125 pounds.

- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane came to rest upright in a power-generators parking area about 0.50 mile from the airport. Both wings and tail remained attached to the fuselage and were destroyed by the post crash fire. The engine was twisted aft and remained attached to the airframe along one of the propellers. A generator located to the right of the main wreckage sustained impact and fire damage. The impact appears consistent with a wings level, nose level altitude. (figure 3)

Figure 3

- Airport Information:
Runway 17L is 10001 x 100 ft. The airport field elevation was 5884.9 ft.

- Weather:
(1) Brief:

The reported weather at KAPA, at 0553 (about 30 minutes before the accident) included: wind 120° at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds (FEW) at 6,000ft AGL, a broken (BKN) ceiling at 10,000ft AGL and 18,000ft AGL, a temperature of 12° C, a dew point of 7° C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 30.17 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 6662 ft.

The reported weather at KAPA, at 0653 (about 30 minutes after the accident) included: wind 120° at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, light rain, few clouds (FEW) at 6,000ft AGL, a broken (BKN) ceiling at 8,000ft AGL and 11,000ft AGL, an overcast ceiling (OVC) at 18,000ft AGL, a temperature of 12° C, a dew point of 7° C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 30.21 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 6622 ft.

(2) METARs:

METAR KAPA 051153Z 12009KT 10SM FEW060 BKN100 BKN180 12/07 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP154 T01220067 10172 20122 55004

METAR KAPA 051253Z 12009KT 10SM -RA FEW060 BKN080 BKN110 OVC180 12/07 A3021 RMK AO2 RAB28 SLP169 P0000 T01170072

(3) Sun and Moon Data:

The sun’s position at the time of the accident was about 2° below the horizon on an azimuth of 79° E, and the the Moon was 27 degrees under the horizon on an azimuth of 266° W. The official sunrise occurred at 0631 LT.

- Additional Information:
no