# NTSB DEN82DA052: Cessna 180K, N2809K, Montrose, CO, March 30, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1982, 09:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Montrose, CO
- Location: 38.4688° N, 107.8590° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montrose, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4688&lon=-107.8590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71761
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71761/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA052

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,ram air/induction air - blocked(total) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent
- In flight collision with object, descent
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED "HORIZONTAL SNOW SQUALLS." HE REPORTED THAT HE FLEW THROUGH THE SNOW SQUALL FOR ABOUT 25 MILES WHILE MAINTAINING GROUND CONTACT. HE APPROACHED A CLOUD LAYER, BUT WAS ABLE TO FLY OVER IT AT 16,500 FT MSL. AS HE CONTINUED, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. WITH THE TEMPERATURE AT -15 DEG FAHRENHEIT (BELOW YELLOW ARC ON CARB AIR TEMP GAUGE), HE WAS RELUCTANT TO USE THE CARB HEAT. AFTER SWITCHING TANKS AND MAGS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT, HE APPLIED FULL CARB HEAT. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH AND FINALLY STOPPED. HE ENTERED THE CLOUDS, AND WITH NO VACUUM SUCTION, DESCENDED USING NEEDLE, BALL AND AIRSPEED. HE TURNED INTO THE WIND TO REDUCE THE GROUND SPEED, AND AT ABOUT 10,000 FT, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND CAME TO REST IN TREES. THE ELT OPERATED, BUT THE ANTENNA WAS BROKEN. THE PILOT MADE A SHELTER, REMAINED OVERNIGHT AND WAS RESCUED ON THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. NO ENGINE PROBLEM WAS FOUND EXCEPT THE PLASTIC FOAM INDUCTION AIR FILTER CONTAINED WATER WHEN CHECKED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2809K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2809K-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 18053080, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K
- Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18053080
- Airframe hours: 366
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-4 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William Smith
- Registered owner: William Smith
- Departed: TAOS, NM
- Destination: ASPEN, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 5,254 total, 368 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 30 knots
- Temperature: 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19820330009079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820330009079A), Mar 30, 1982: Cessna 180K, Montrose, CO, Destroyed. Engine air filter iced up flying in heavy snowshower. Engine quit. Landed in trees. Filter prone to ice clogging.

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.

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