Two Die in Plane Crash Near Centennial Airport
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — Two individuals were killed in a small plane crash about one mile south of Centennial Airport on Friday morning, as confirmed by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and South Metro Fire Rescue.
The Beech BE35 aircraft crashed at approximately 6:20 a.m. on S. Peoria Street in a business park near the Flexential – Denver – Englewood Data Center. First responders arrived to find a fire threatening nearby generators, but confirmed no damage to the generators or surrounding buildings, and no additional injuries were reported.
The Douglas County Coroner's Office is set to identify the deceased and notify their families. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash. Eyewitnesses with relevant video or photos are urged to contact the NTSB.
Witness Desmond Brown reported hearing a loud boom while working nearby, followed by flames. Denver7 obtained air traffic control (ATC) recordings indicating the pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings at Centennial Airport when the crash occurred shortly after takeoff.
According to ATC instructions, the pilot was cleared for takeoff from runway 17R and was expected to return to land on runway 17L. Shortly after takeoff, another pilot alerted ATC to smoke near the crash site, prompting immediate responses from emergency services.
Further information will be released by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the FAA.