Cessna 182M N71276

Summary

On 11 November 2008 at about 21:30 local time, a Cessna 182M registered N71276 was involved in an accident near Basalt, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 November 2008 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Basalt, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.3822, -106.5569

Aircraft

Cessna 182M

Registration

N71276

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Denver → Price

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Light

Not Reported

NTSB number

CEN09LA056

1 person died.

The non-instrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his loss of control of the airplane in flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The single-engine airplane went missing and was the subject of an ALNOT (Alert Notification). The following day, the airplane wreckage was located in rugged terrain. An initial on-site examination was conducted; however, due to the remote location of the site, the rugged terrain, and deep winter snow, the airplane was not recovered until late the following summer (approximately 9 months later) for a more detailed examination. A review of the airplane’s radar track showed that the airplane was heading westbound at an altitude of 14,800 feet before disappearing from radar. Prior to the last radar contact at 1530, the airplane appeared to be in a rapid decent indicative of having lost control. Examination of the airplane wreckage showed extensive fragmentation and aft crush damage to the forward fuselage and both wings. Flight control continuity was confirmed and no pre-impact anomalies were discovered with the airplane. Prior to departure, the non-instrument-rated pilot received a standard weather briefing from the Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS). The briefing included an advisory for mountain obscuration and icing conditions along his intended route, and recommended against Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight. Later, the pilot contacted AFSS and received a standard briefing, which included an advisory for mountain obscuration. The briefing also included forecasts for several locations en route which indicated VFR conditions prevailed at those locations, but with multiple layers of clouds. A review of the weather conditions near the site at the time of the accident indicated that the airplane was over an overcast layer of clouds and was likely in instrument meteorological conditions and exposed to icing conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.