# NTSB DEN84LA069: Cessna 182J, N3344F, Alamosa, CO, January 10, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1984, 21:07 local (Jan 10, 1984, 04:07 UTC)
- Place: Alamosa, CO
- Coordinates: 37.459499, -105.870475 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4595&lon=-105.8705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16322
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16322/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA069

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - performed, pilot in command
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THE WX DETERIORATED EN ROUTE & HE DECIDED TO LAND AT A SMALL ARPT DUE TO THE FOG & POOR VISIBILITY. THE ARPT BEACON WAS OPERATING, BUT THE RWY LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. DURING A 2ND APCH, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG & STARTED TO GO-AROUND. THE ACFT IMPACTED SNOW COVERED TERRAIN WHILE IN A RIGHT TURN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3344F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3344F-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 18257344, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182J
- Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18257344
- Airframe hours: 3755
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-47O-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kremmling Flying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 1983, 46 hours before
- Departed: MONTROSE, CO
- Destination: KREMMLING, CO
- Airport: ALS, Alamosa Mun/Bergman, runway 20, 8,499 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 294 total, 74 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 3 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: 1 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 19840109001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840109001269A), Jan 9, 1984: Cessna 182J, Alamosa, CO, Substantial damage. Struck snow covered high terrain while turning final for landing in a dense fog. Was off course at wrong airport.

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.