# NTSB DEN83FA090: Cessna 150M, N714ML, Kanab, UT, March 31, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1983, 12:38 local (19:38 UTC)
- Place: Kanab, UT
- Coordinates: 37.269546, -112.229476 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2695&lon=-112.2295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15980
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15980/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA090

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - ignition system,spark plug - undertorqued (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - leak (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,ring - leak (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - deteriorated (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED PAGE AT ABOUT 1150. AT ABOUT 1238 THE ACFT STRUCK THE SOUTH SLOPE OF A 6,280-FT CANYON WALL AT ABOUT 6,000 FT MSL. THE CANYON IS ONE OF A SERIES OF ABOUT FIVE 'FINGER' CANYONS FORMING THE VERMILION CLIFFS GROUP. SIGMENT LIMA 15 IN EFFECT CALLED FOR OCCASIONAL SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 16,000 FT ESPECIALLY WITHIN 50 MI OF ROUGH TERRAIN. THE AREA FORECAST CALLED FOR OCCASIONAL MODERATE TRUBULENCE SURFACE TO 15,000 FT DUE TO STRONG WESTERLY WINDS. A PLT WHO LANDED AT PAGE AT 1345 STATED HIS FLT WAS MARKED BY LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE TURBULENCE WITH FREQUENT SUSTAINED UP & DOWN DRAFTS. HE ALSO STATED THAT DURING HIS ARRIVAL THE WINDS WERE 160 DEG AT 28 MPH GUSTING TO 45 MPH. REPORT OF ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT NONE OF THE SPARKPLUGS WERE TORQUED, & THE SPARKPLUGS OF CYL #4 WERE ONLY FINGER-TIGHT. IN ADDITION, CYL #1'S EXHAUST VALVE LEAKED, CYL #3'S RINGS LEAKED, & CYL #4'S INTAKE VALVE & RINGS LEAKED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N714ML](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N714ML-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N 15079281 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15079281
- Airframe hours: 2001
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas Rex Jarrett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 1983, 54 hours before
- Departed: PGA, PAGE, AZ
- Destination: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 347 total, 314 in this make and model, 288 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 18 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CDC, 65 nm away

## 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 19830331010649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830331010649A), Mar 31, 1983: Cessna 150M, Kanab, UT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed into the wall of a canyon. Severe turbulence in the area. Indicates pilot was caught in a severe downdraft.

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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