Denver - Denver

On December 4, 1951 at 07:25 AM, Denver - Denver experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by United Airlines, with the event recorded near Denver-Stapleton Colorado.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was flight at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. United Air Lines operates a Flight Training Center at Denver, Colorado, to train applicants for first officer positions with the company. The crew of United Trainer 16 consisted of Senior First Officer Jordan D. Kocher, who had been designated by United Air Lines as captain and instructor, and Trainee First Officers Laurence G. Wilson and Wayne C. Moen. The flight departed Stapleton Airfield at 0655LT. The 0628 weather conditions, upon which the crew had been briefed, were ceiling measured 15,000 feet, visibility 25 miles, and wind northwest 14 knots Ceiling and visibility were unlimited at the time of the accident, with the wind northwest 16 knots. No radio contacts were made by United Trainer 16 after reporting departure time. It was cleared for a training flight of four hours’ duration within a 25-mile radius of Denver Captain Kocher occupied the left pilot’s seat at takeoff. Upon departure, the aircraft load, in addition to the crew, was 820 gallons of gasoline, full oil tanks, and 650 pounds of sand ballast tied down in the rear baggage pit. The load was properly distributed with relation to the aircraft’s center of gravity, and the 22,910-pound gross weight at takeoff was within allowable limits. Witnesses reported that at between 0720 and 0725 the aircraft was seen to stall, enter a spin, and strike the ground in a diving attitude before recovery was effected.

Aircraft reference details include registration N17109, MSN 4999, year of manufacture 1942.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 39.7778°, -104.8651°.