# NTSB DEN83LA171: Cessna 182P, N86344, Gunnison, CO, July 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1983, 09:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place: Gunnison, CO
- Coordinates: 38.540523, -106.920135 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5405&lon=-106.9201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16121
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16121/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA171

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR DURING LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THE LANDING WAS NORMAL BUT DURING ROLLOUT HE ELECTED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS, TURN OFF THE CARBUERTOR HEAT AND OPEN THE COWL FLAPS. AT THISTIME THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AND THE PILOT SAID IN SPITE OF USE OF RUDDER AND/OR BRAKES HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. THERE WERE NO REPORTED WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. UPON EXAMINATION OF BRAKES AND FLT CONTROLS NO MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUNDAND THE PLT DID NOT REPORT ANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE LOCAL SHERIFF REPORTED TIRE SCUFF MARKS AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SCUFF MARK PATTERN INDICATED THAT THE ACFT WAS DRIFTING TO THE LEFT AT TOUCHDOWN. THE ACFT TRAVELED 344 FT AFTER LEAVING THE RWY BEFORE HITTING THE DITCH AND STOPPING. THE WINDS WERE REPORTEDAS CALM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N86344 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18261926
- Airframe hours: 2550
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R-258 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Travis Afb Aero Club
- Registered owner: Mary E. Portalupi
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 28, 1983, 149 hours before
- Departed: MLF, MILFORD, UT
- Destination: GUC, GUNNISON, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GUC, Gunnison County, runway 24, 7,198 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 249 total, 249 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GJT

## 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 19830721037059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830721037059A), Jul 21, 1983: Cessna 182P, Gunnison, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control of aircraft shortly after touchdown and aircraft ran into ditch off side of runway.

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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