NTSB Factual Report

On May 11, 2018, about 2019 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR22 airplane, N507TX, impacted terrain near Lone Tree, Colorado. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The airplane had just departed from Centennial Airport (APA), Denver, Colorado, and was en route to Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado.

According to a preliminary review of air traffic control recordings and radar data, the airplane was cleared for a left downwind departure from runway 35R (10,000 ft by 100 ft; asphalt) about 2011. The controller asked the pilot to remain west of the final approach path for runway 35R, due to inbound traffic. Radar data showed the airplane turn left for the downwind departure and fly to the south. Initially the airplane was west of the center line, but then started a left turn, towards the center line of the approach corridor, at an altitude of 6,900 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane flew through the center line, and the controller asked the pilot to remain east of the center line. The controller asked the pilot his intentions and the pilot requested to return to the airport. Radar data showed the airplane westbound, towards the center line at an altitude of 7,500 ft msl. Radar contact and voice communications was lost approximately 2019.

The airplane impacted an open field 2.5 miles south, southwest of the approach end of runway 35R. Witness marks at the initial impact point are consistent with a right wing low, nose level attitude at the time of impact. The airplane was fragmented and debris was scattered for 1,219 feet. The engine of the airplane came to rest in the wall of a residential home.

The closest official weather observation station was APA, located 2.5 nautical miles (nm) north northwest of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 5,885 ft msl. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) for APA, issued at 1953, reported, wind 350 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots, visibility 7 miles, sky condition, 1,500 ft broken, 10,000 ft overcast, temperature 15 degrees Celsius (C), dew point temperature 12 degrees C, altimeter 29.82 inches of mercury. Another airplane, flying the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 35R, reported breaking out of the clouds at 6,800 ft msl.