A small Mooney single‑engine airplane slid off the south side of Runway 28 at Centennial Airport on Thursday afternoon with two people aboard. One person was taken to an area hospital for evaluation while South Metro Fire Rescue crews and deputies from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office worked the scene. Crews were clearing the area shortly after the landing excursion, and the airport stayed open to other traffic.
Photos And First Response
In a Facebook post, South Metro Fire Rescue shared photos from the scene and said crews responded to the south side of Runway 28 and that one person was transported non‑emergently to an area hospital for further evaluation. The post also noted that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified. The NTSB typically posts an initial factual update within about 30 days, while a full investigation can take 12 to 24 months, per the NTSB.
Local Reports Fill In The Timeline
KKTV reported that crews arrived near Runway 28 a little before 1 p.m. and that firefighters were clearing the scene by about 1:15 p.m., noting that two people had been aboard the aircraft. The station added that there was no major fire at the scene and that additional information was expected from airport officials.
Investigators Called In
South Metro’s post identified the airplane as a Mooney and said the FAA and NTSB were notified and were responding to examine the aircraft and the landing, and that Arapahoe County Sheriff’s deputies assisted on scene, according to South Metro Fire Rescue. Centennial Airport had not posted a formal news release at the time of the initial updates, and media inquiries are routed through the airport communications office.
Why Investigators Will Scrutinize The Landing
Investigators are expected to focus on landing factors such as directional control, braking, and runway surface conditions that commonly contribute to runway excursions. A previous 2012 Mooney M20 runway excursion at Centennial documented how a loss of directional control during landing can carry an airplane off the south side of Runway 28; see the NTSB final report for that case. Centennial’s Runway 10/28 is about 4,800 feet long, and the field handles heavy general‑aviation traffic, which can complicate patterns and response; see AirNav and South Metro Fire Rescue for runway and operations details.
What Happens Next
Airport and emergency officials said they will coordinate with federal investigators and post updates when more information is available. For official statements and media contacts, see Centennial Airport and South Metro Fire Rescue’s channels.
