# NTSB DEN83FA133: Cessna 182A, N5149D, Orderville, UT, November 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1982, 16:02 local (23:02 UTC)
- Place: Orderville, UT
- Coordinates: 37.280029, -112.709831 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2800&lon=-112.7098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72099
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72099/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA133

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ON A X-COUNTRY IN BAD WEATHER. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH HADINCLUDED THE CAUTION THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. ALSO THE ACFT HAD NO RADIO SO THE PLT TOLD THE BRIEFER TO ASSUME HIM OFF AT 1330 HOURS. THE PLT HAD FLOWN THE PROPOSED ROUTE MANY TIMES. THIS TIME THE ACFT WAS REPORTED AS MISSING WHEN IT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT DESTINATION. THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 6/4/83. THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN A WINGS LEVEL 70 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AT HIGH SPEED. IT MADE A CRATER ABOUT 3 FT DEEP. A FAST MOVING FRONT HAD MOVED THROUGH THAT AREA ON THE ACCIDENT DAY AT ABOUT THE PRESUMED TIME OF THE ACCIDENT ACCORDING TO THE DEPUTY SHERIFF WHO IS ALSO A PRIVATE PLT. ABOUT 1/2 INCH OF SNOW FELL IN A SHORT TIME AND IT DID NOT MELT ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5149D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5149D-2013-03-25), registration cancelled 2013-03-25, S/N 51249, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51249
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rudger G. Smith
- Registered owner: Ponderosa Park Devel. Co.
- Departed: PROVO, UT
- Destination: PRESCOTT, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,177 total, 537 in this make and model, 1,154 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 15 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 90 °F

## 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 19821108057969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821108057969A), Nov 8, 1982: Cessna 182A, Orderville, UT, Destroyed. Wreckage and flight time weather indicates pilot lost control after entering an area of heavy snow and low ceiling.

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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