# NTSB DEN83LA168: Cessna 172, N37ER, Salida, CO, July 18, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1983, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Salida, CO
- Coordinates: 38.530075, -106.000106 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5301&lon=-106.0001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16118/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA168

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - mountain wave (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE CROSSED RUBY MOUNTAIN AT 9900 FT MCL. AFTER CROSSING, HE REPORTEDLY ENCOUNTERED LIGHT RAIN & 500 FT/MIN DOWNDRAFTS. HE STATED THAT HE FLEW INTO ROTOR WINDS & HAD DIFFICULTLY KEEPING THE WINGS LEVEL. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REVERSE COURSE, SO HE SELECTED THE ONLY AVAILABLE PLACE TO LAND, A SLOPING, ROCKY MEADOW. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSEWHEEL HIT A ROCK & THE ACFT WENT OVER ON ITS TOP. THE PLT STRONGLY EMPHASIZED THAT THE USE OF SHOULDER HARNESSES PREVENTED HIM & THE PASSENGER (HIS WIFE) FROM RECEIVING INJURIES. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, ANOTHER PLT WAS GIVING INSTRUCTIONS ON MOUNTAIN FLYING IN A CESSNA 172. HE WAS FLYING APRX 15 MI SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE AIR WAS VERY UNSTABLE & THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA. HE REPORTED THAT HIS CLIMB RATE NEVER EXCEEDED 100 FT/MIN, EXCEPT IN UPDRAFTS ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF THE RIDGES. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 8200 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37ER-1993-05-13), registration cancelled 1993-05-13, S/N 17269534 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269534
- Airframe hours: 4280
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth P. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 1983
- Departed: 7V1, BUENA VISTA, CO
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,481 total, 331 in this make and model, 3,157 as pilot in command, 129 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19830718036109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830718036109A), Jul 18, 1983: Cessna 172, Salida, CO, Substantial damage. During crossing mountain ridges, aircraft entered rotor waves and pilot was unable to maintain altitude.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.