What happened
At 03:29, the crew initiated their takeoff roll following a standard pre-flight inspection that indicated all systems were functioning correctly. During the takeoff run on Runway 17, air traffic controllers observed that the aircraft type was accelerating at an unusually slow rate. Although the engines produced normal manifold pressure and revolutions per minute, the airspeed failed to increase as expected. The pilot lifted the aircraft off the runway near its end, reaching a maximum airspeed of only 100 to 105 miles per hour.
After retracting the landing gear and climbing to approximately 100 feet, the aircraft experienced severe vibrations. The flight lost altitude and collided with an obstruction light atop a 40-foot electric pole located roughly 1,910 feet south of the runway terminus. The aircraft, registration N-67960, proceeded to strike three additional poles before making contact with the ground. The aircraft skidded for 350 feet, eventually coming to rest 2,791 feet from the end of the runway. The impact sequence involved hitting fences and a small tool shed, as well as colliding with two parked cars in a residential alleyway situated between Stapleton Air Field and Lowry Air Force Base. While emergency responders arrived quickly to prevent a fire, there were 0 fatalities reported.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the aircraft was carrying an excess weight of 172 pounds, though this was not considered a primary driver of the poor performance. The aircraft had a known history of slower-than-normal acceleration compared to similar models. A significant contributing factor was the selection of a shorter runway, as the crew utilized a 6,980-foot runway despite an 8,500-foot alternative being available under the calm wind conditions present at the time. During the climb, the aircraft entered a partial stall, leading to the loss of altitude and subsequent collision with ground obstructions.