Cessna 182A N4845D

Summary

On 18 May 1988 at about 04:07 local time, a Cessna 182A registered N4845D was involved in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 1988 at 04:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

36.0308, -112.0199

Aircraft

Cessna 182A

Registration

N4845D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Page → Tucson

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX88FA187

2 people died.

PILOTS SELECTION OF AN INAPPROPRIATE CRUISE ALTITUDE WHICH DID NOT ENSURE ADEQUTE TERRAIN CLEARANCE ON THE LEG OF THE FLIGHT FROM PAGE TO GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FLIGHT SCHEDULE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WHICH MAY HAVE PRODUCED A FATIGUE CONDITON.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE TRIP ITINERARY BEGAN AT 0530 HRS ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT WITH SEVERAL STOPS PLANNED AT VARIOUS AIRPORTS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, WITH A LONG STOPOVER AT PAGE. IN THE EVENING THE PILOT GOT A WX BRIEFING AND FILED A FLIGHT PLAN FOR THE RETURN LEG FROM PAGE TO TUCSON. THE PILOT GAVE HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT AS V293 AT AN ALTITUDE OF 8,500 FT MSL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON AT AN ALTITUDE OF 8,540 FT MSL. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ABOUT 2 DEGREES FROM THE CENTER LINE OF V293. A WITNESS HEARD THE AIRCRAFT APPROACH THE ACCIDENT SITE AND REPORTED STRONG ENGINE SOUNDS UNTIL IMPACT. THE WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT STROBE AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS APPROACH THE ACCIDENT SITE IN LEVEL FLIGHT THEN DISAPPEAR INTO THE TREES; AN EXPLOSION AND FIREBALL WERE SEEN IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR AND DARK WITH NO MOON. THE VFR SECTIONAL LISTS 9,200 FT MSL AS THE MINIMUM SECTOR ALTITUDE FOR THE ACCIDENT AREA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.