# Accident 20120425006469A: Cessna A185F, Blanding, UT, April 25, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 25, 2012, 15:38 local time
- Place: Blanding, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.8119° N, 110.0664° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8119&lon=-110.0664&mi=10
- Aircraft: N243W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N243W-2018-01-02) (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
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,197 total, 111 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12FA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA184) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120425006469A

## Narrative

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

N243W COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN IN THE DARK CANYON WILDERNESS AREA NEAR BLANDING, UT.  THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS A BACKCOUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT.  THE INSTRUCTOR AND TWO-PILOT RATED PASSENGERS, ONE BEING THE OWNER DEPARTED FROM PRICE, UT (KPUC) ABOUT 0700.  THEY FLEW TO VARIOUS AREAS AS NOTED BY THE SPOT GPS TRACKER.  THE LAST KNOWN DEPARTURE WAS OUT OF HIDDEN SPLENDOR AT ABOUT 1449 WHERE THE AIRCRAFT HAD A FLAT TIRE THAT WAS FIXED BY A MECHANIC THAT FLEW IN TO DO THE REPAIR.  N243W DEPARTED HIDDEN SPLENDOR AT ABOUT 1500 AND CONTINUED ON A SOUTHEAST HEADING FOR THE NEXT 40 MINUTES.  THE LAST SPOT TRACKER WAS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AT 1538 AND CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS.  THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF BLANDING, AT AN ELEVATION OF 6.900 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL).  THE FUSELAGE CAME OT REST ON A HEADING OF 040 DEGREES MAGNETIC, FACING UPHILL WITHIN A 20-DEGREE SLOPING WASH.  THE WASH WAS COMPRISED OF FLAT SANDSTONE, AND THE SURROUNDING AREA CONSISTED OF BRUSH AND PINE TREES.  THE AIRPLANE REMAINED UPRIGHT, WITH THE ENGINE INTACT AND IMPALED AGAINST A SEMICIRCULAR STRATIFIED ABUTMENT, WHICH SURROUNDED THE AIRPLANE TO THE NORTH.  THE FUSELAGE SUSTAINED MINIMAL LONGITUDINAL CRUSH DAMAGE.  THE MAJORITY OF THE STRUCTURE AND CABIN CONTENTS FOR OF THE TAILCONE, INCLUDING A 30-FOOT-LONG SWATH OF VEGETATION, WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE.  THE EMPENNAGE SECTION, AFT OF THE FIRE LINE, SUSTAINED NO DISCERNABLE DAMAGE.  ALL MAJOR SECTION OF THE AIRPLANE WERE ACCOUNTED FOR WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.

## 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 WPR12FA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA184), Apr 25, 2012: Cessna A185F (N243W), Blanding, UT, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during low-level maneuvering flight. Contributing to the pilot’s death was the lack of a timely emergency rescue response due to the lack of effective…

## Other reports on N243W (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19880521029899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880521029899I), May 21, 1988: Cessna A185F (N243W), Elgin, AZ, Minor damage. Pilot lost directional control on touchdown. Had wind shift. Veered off runway. Hit a manure pile. Minor damages.

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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