# NTSB DEN86LA155: Cessna 182P, N8078M, Vernal, UT, June 6, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 6, 1986, 07:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place: Vernal, UT
- Coordinates: 40.550086, -109.570648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5501&lon=-109.5706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16976/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA155

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE FLYING A PIPELING PATROL FLT 1,000 FEET AGL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT WINDSHEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE 2,000 FPM ACFT DESCENT FROM WHICH THE PLT WAS NOT ABLE TO RECOVER. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN ROUGH TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE PLT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES IN THE CRASH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8078M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8078M-1991-04-18), registration cancelled 1991-04-18, S/N 18264539 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18264539
- Airframe hours: 2270
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Marr Air Patrol
- Registered owner: T & E Leasing Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 1986, 70 hours before
- Departed: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO
- Destination: RKS, ROCK SPRINGS, WY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,615 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 5,330 as pilot in command, 401 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VEL, 10 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 19860606048879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860606048879A), Jun 6, 1986: Cessna 182P, Vernal, UT, Destroyed. Encountered wind shear in mountainous area while on pipeline patrol. Unable to recover, impacted ground, burned.

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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