# NTSB DEN87FA219: Cessna 182P, N1359S, Milner, CO, August 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1987, 22:51 local (Aug 17, 1987, 04:51 UTC)
- Place: Milner, CO
- Coordinates: 40.490901, -106.830696 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4909&lon=-106.8307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17125
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17125/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA219

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, descent - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating
  - communications/information/atc - inaccurate, atc personnel(fss)
  - became lost/disoriented (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON A FLT FM GREEN BAY, WI TO STEAMBOAT SPGS (SBS), CO, WITH STOPS AT SIOUX CITY & CHEYENNE (CYS). AT 2245, HE CONTACTED DENVER FSS, STATED HE WAS ON FINAL APCH TO SBS & SAID THE RWY LGTS HAD GONE OUT. HE THEN ASKED FOR THE FREQFOR 'PUTTING THEM BACK ON.'  THE FSS SPECIALIST CHECKED THE ARPT DIRECTORY & FND NO FREQ LISTED FOR SBS, BUT TOLD THE PLT HE CLD 'TRY FREQ 122.8 . . .'  SOON THEREAFTER, THE PLT SAID HE HAD LGTS & CANCELLED HIS FLT PLAN. AT 2251, THE ACFTHIT PWR LINES, CRASHED & BURNED APRX MIDWAY BTN SBS & THE YAMPA VALLEY ARPT AT HAYDEN (HDN), CO. THE CRASH SITE WAS IN AVALLEY AREA AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 6000' MSL. ELEV OF THE ARPTS AT SBS & HDN WERE 6875' & 6597', RESPECTIVELY. THE RWY LGTSAT SBS WERE PRIVATELY OWNED BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRWAYS & WERE TURNED OFF SOMETIME AFTER THE LAST FLT DEPD SBS AT 2025. THE RWY LGTS AT HDN WERE PLT CONTROLLED BY TUNING THE ACFT RADIO TO 122.8 MHZ & DEPRESSING THE MIKE BUTTON 3 TO 7 TIMES,DEPENDING ON THE DESIRED INTENSITY. THE FREQ AT SBS WAS ALSO 122.8 MHZ. NO PREIMPACT MECH PROBLEM WAS FND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1359S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18264922
- Airframe hours: 1000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gerald P. Williams
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1986, 50 hours before
- Departed: CYS, CHEYENNE, WY
- Destination: SBS, STEAMBOAT SPGS, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,400 total, 18 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EGE, 54 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 19870816045499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870816045499A), Aug 16, 1987: Cessna 182P, Milner, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft collided with powerlines on descent to airport. Crashed inverted. Post fire. No engine malfunction.

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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