# Accident 20020904024409A: Cessna A185F, Salida, CO, September 4, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2002, 06:55 local time
- Place: Salida, CO
- Airport: Harriet Alexander Field Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3944° N, 105.9367° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3944&lon=-105.9367&mi=10
- Aircraft: N24GS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24GS-2011-09-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02GA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02GA102) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020904024409A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED HARRIET ALEXANDER FIELD (0V2) WITH PARTIAL FUEL LOAD, 1 PAX, AND CARGO AT 0640 ON 09/04/02. WEATHER BREIFING OBTAINED FROM TELEPHONE INFORMATION BRIEFING SYSTEM. ENROUTE CLIMB WAS NORMAL. AIRCRAFT ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS NORMAL DURING TAKEOFF AND CLIMB. AFTER OBTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 12,050 FEET, A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT CARRIED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH AN ALTITUDE LOSS OF 300 FEET, RESULTING IN AN IMPACT WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE ON A HEADING OF 120 DEGREES MAGNETIC, AT 0655 LOCAL TIME. THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL HEAD INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN02GA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02GA102), Sep 4, 2002: Cessna A185F (N24GS), Howard, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance of the terrain. Contributing factors were the clear air turbulent weather condition, and the high density altitude condition.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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