# NTSB DEN84FA011: Cessna 182, N3254Y, Hanksville, UT, October 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1983, 21:00 local (Oct 14, 1983, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Hanksville, UT
- Coordinates: 38.270748, -110.749694 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2707&lon=-110.7497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16176/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA011

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THERE WERE TWO PILOTS ABOARD THIS ACFT WHICH IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON A PLATEAU AT 5000 FT MSL. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. THE PILOT WAS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED & HIS CLASS III MEDICAL HAD EXPIRED. THE SECOND PILOT HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE & AN INSTRUMENT RATING. HIS RECENT EXPERIENCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CRASH SITE WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO SIGNIFICANT LIGHTS CREATING A 'BLACK HOLE.' ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS TWISTED & BENT WITH SCRATCHES ON THE CAMBER SIDE & A FILAMENT FROM A NAVIGATION LIGHT WAS STRETCHED. THE ACFT WAS NOT CERTIFIED FOR ICING CONDITIONS & HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. A METEOROLOGICAL SUMMARY INDICATES THAT THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE FLIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO THUNDERSTORMS WITH RAIN SHOWERS, LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE, FLIGHT VISIBILITY 0 MILES IN CLOUDS. NO WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3254Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3254Y-2012-09-05), registration cancelled 2012-09-05, S/N 51828 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18254245
- Airframe hours: 1411
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William J. Cox
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1983
- Departed: TRM, THERMAL, CA
- Destination: U20, GREEN RIVER, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; flight hours: 141 total, 141 in this make and model, 106 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HVE, 24 nm away

## Other investigations on N3254Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA89LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA044), Jan 31, 1989: Cessna 182 (N3254Y), N. Bonneville, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: SOME FORM OF CARBURETOR MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PLANNED FORCED LANDING APPROACH BY THE PLT WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE…

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.