# NTSB DEN83FTE02: Cessna 172G, N5803R, Mack, CO, October 27, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1982, 19:29 local (Oct 27, 1982, 01:29 UTC)
- Place: Mack, CO
- Coordinates: 39.219116, -108.870994 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2191&lon=-108.8710&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69632
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FTE02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69632/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FTE02

## 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)
  - initiated, pilot in command
  - navigation receiver - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, other
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, other
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A FLT FROM EVANSTON, WY TO GLENWOOD, CO, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED "CLOUD TO GROUND" CONDITINS & DIVERTED TOWARD GRAND JUNCTION, CO. HE STATED THAT DUE TO A NAV PROBLEM, HE RADIOED GRAND JUNCTION TOWER TO VERIFY HIS POSITION. GRAND JUNCTION HAD NO RADAR & WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY TRYING TO GET A FIX ON THE ACFT. THEREFORE, THEY CONTACTED DENVER CENTER (DEN CTR). DEN CTR ESTABLISHED RADAR CONTACT AT 1849 MDT. THE TOWER INFORMED THE PLT OF HIS POSITION APRX 40 MI NORTHWEST & PROVIDED A FREQ TO CONTACT DEN CTR. HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT DEN CTR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE STATED HE WAS LOSING GROUND CONTACT. FOR THE NEXT 35 MIN, TOWER & CTR MADE EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT TO HELP ORIENT THE PILOT & VECTOR HIM TO GRAND JUNCTION. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A HEADING OR AN ASSIGNED ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, THE NAV RECEIVER WAS FOUND ON 117.4 MHZ, THE GRAND JUNCTION VOR FREQ WAS 112.4 MHZ.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5803R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5803R-2013-02-01), registration cancelled 2013-02-01, S/N 17253472, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17253472
- Airframe hours: 6670
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Sun Flying Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Sun Flying Service, Inc.
- Departed: EVW, EVANSTON, WY
- Destination: GWS, GLENWOOD SPRING, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 168 total, 156 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Temperature: 136 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GJT, 34 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 19821026057839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821026057839A), Oct 26, 1982: Cessna 172G, Mack, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed during radar vectors to airport. Pilot unable to maintain heading.

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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