# NTSB DEN86FA254: Cessna 182Q, N735GN, Ovid, CO, September 18, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1986, 15:18 local (21:18 UTC)
- Place: Ovid, CO
- Coordinates: 40.870643, -102.389572 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8706&lon=-102.3896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16848/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA254

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - rising
  - terrain condition - ground
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT AND HIS PAX HAD FLOWN TO OGALLALA, NE, FOR BOATING AND WATER SKIING. THE NEXT DAY THE PLT CALLED HIS WIFE WHO REMINDED HIM OF AN ENGAGEMENT THAT EVENING. THE PLT CALLED THE FSS 5 DIFFERENT TIMES AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. HE TOLD A FRIEND THAT HE WOULD FOLLOW THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BACK TO BOULDER, CO. IF HE COULDN'T MAKE IT, HE WOULD TURN AROUND AND COME BACK. HE SAID HE COULD ALWAYS LAND ON THE HIGHWAY IN AN EMERGENCY. THE PLT AND HIS PAX DEPARTED AT 1500 HRS. A WITNESS DESCRIBED THE WX AS LOW CEILING, REDUCED VISIBILITY, AND LIGHT DRIZZLE. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING MORNING 0.5 MI SOUTH OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND 33 MI WEST OF OGALLALA. THE ACFT CRASHED ON A HEADING BACK TO OGALLALA. THE ACFT CLOCK HAD STOPPED AT 3:18 HRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N735GN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18265414
- Airframe hours: 1807
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gregory/Leibovic
- Registered owner: J.G. Gregory/David Leibovic
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1986, 12 hours before
- Departed: OGA, OGALLALA, NV
- Destination: 1V5, BOULDER, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 210 total, 163 in this make and model, 46 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBF, 32 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 19860918045529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860918045529A), Sep 18, 1986: Cessna 182Q, Ovid, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft struck terrain in low visibility conditions. Suspect VFR pilot was attempting a 180 degree turn.

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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