# NTSB DEN83FA152: Cessna U206, N5413X, Cortez, CO, June 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1983, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Cortez, CO
- Location: 37.3498° N, 108.5761° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cortez, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3498&lon=-108.5761&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15994
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15994/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA152

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT FILED A COMPANY VFR FLT PLAN & TOOK OFF AT APRX 0930 MDT ON A RETURN FLT TO FARMINGTON, NM. ACCORDING TO A SURVIVING PASSENGER, AFTER DEPARTING BLANDING, THE ACFT ENTERED LOW CLOUDS. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT FLEW IN THE CLOUDS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL HE FOUND AN OPEN SPOT, THEN DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PLT CONTINUED THE FLT 'GOING BACK & FORTH, UP & DOWN... CANYONS.' HE STATED THE PLT 'STARTED BACK UP IN THE FOG & I THOUGHT HE KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING.' HE REPORTED THAT A FEW MINUTES AFTER ENTERING THE FOG, THE ACFT CRASHED. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AFTER THE ACFT WAS REPORTED OVERDUE. IT WAS FOUND AT APRX 1517 WHERE IT CRASHED & BURNED ON SLEEPING UTE MOUNTAIN AT THE 7800 FT LEVEL. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED. THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT WAS CERTIFIED FOR VFR FLT ONLY FOR OPERATIONS UNDER PART 135 OF THE FAR'S.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5413X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5413X-1984-03-23), registration cancelled 1984-03-23, S/N U206-05729 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206
- Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U20605729
- Airframe hours: 2342
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Four Corners Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 1983, 47 hours before
- Departed: BDG, BLANDING, UT
- Destination: FMN, FARNINGTON, NM
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 882 total, 76 in this make and model, 735 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Temperature: 50 °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 19830625026949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830625026949A), Jun 25, 1983: Cessna U206G, Cortez, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into fog shrouded rising terrain trying to maintain ground contact. IFR rated but not allowed under part 135.

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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