# NTSB DEN05LA112: Cessna 182Q, N735AC, Grand Junction, CO, July 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2005, 20:30 local (Jul 17, 2005, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.122222, -108.526664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1222&lon=-108.5267&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61997/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA112 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during aborted landing and failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the encounter with wind shear during final approach and landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The instructor pilot said he was on short final when he encountered wind shear and turbulence. He initiated a go-around, failed to maintain control of the airplane, lost airspeed, stalled, and subsequently impacted terrain. According to the tower controller, the airplane was cleared to land on runway 11. While on short final, the airplane encountered a wind gust or downdraft, and the flight instructor reported to the controller he was initiating a go-around. Approximately 200 feet agl, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the runway surface. At 2032, the automated surface observing system (ASOS) reported the wind from 210 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 37 knots. At 2027, ASOS reported a peak wind at 310 degrees at 37 knots. Cumulonimbus clouds, virga, and wind shear were reported in the area at the time of the accident ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2005, approximately 2030 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, single-engine airplane, N735AC, was destroyed when it impacted the runway following a loss of control during an aborted landing at Walker Field Airport (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight departed GJT approximately 1945. According to the GJT tower controller, the airplane was cleared to land on runway 11. While on short final, the airplane encountered wind shear, and the flight instructor reported to the controller he was initiating a go-around. Approximately 200 feet agl, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the runway surface. According to the flight instructor, the weather conditions were VFR with isolated virga accompanied with wind shear. He stated that he "established a stable approach at about 80 knots and 20 degrees of flaps". He said that he noticed "dust devils in the dirt at about the anticipated touchdown point." He "immediately initiated a go-around, applied full power, and set the attitude for level flight.". He stated that "when the airplane entered the wind shear, the airspeed dropped rapidly and the stall warning horn sounded". He said the airplane lost all lift and "slammed into the runway". According to the student, they encountered turbulence on final approach. He said, "during one bounce, I noticed that airspeed had dropped 40 knots and I called out we were near stall speed". He said, "I looked out the windshield and thought I saw a dust devil to the right of the runway. I looked back inside the cockpit and noticed (the instructor) had removed one notch of flaps". He stated that his "next memory was the runway rushing up at me". According to an FAA inspector who traveled to the accident site, examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the engine and airframe. The left wing separated, the propeller was bent, the nose gear and left main gear were separated, and the fuselage was wrinkled. At 2032, the GJT automated surface observing system (ASOS) reported the wind from 210 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 37 knots. At 2027, the GJT ASOS reported a peak wind at 310 degrees at 37 knots. Cumulonimbus clouds, virga, and wind shear were reported in the area at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N735AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N735AC), registered now, S/N 18265262, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18265262 - Airframe hours: 5118 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry G. Kempton Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 1, 2005, 18 hours before - Departed: GJT, Grand Junction, CO - Destination: GJT - Airport: GJT, Walker Field Airport, runway 11, 10,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 1,299 total, 655 in this make and model, 1,170 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 173 total, 88 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots, gusting 37 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: GJT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050717014689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050717014689A), Jul 17, 2005: Cessna 182Q, Grand Junction, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) While attempting a landing on runway 11 at Grand Junction Walker Field, Colorado, at 2030 MDT on July 16, 2005, the instructor pilot who was flying the… ## Other investigations on N735AC (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 FTW83LA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA353), Jul 30, 1983: Cessna 182Q (N735AC), Three Rivers, TX, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.