# NTSB DEN89LA150: Cessna R182, N7385Y, Telluride, CO, July 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1989, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Telluride, CO
- Coordinates: 37.939556, -107.899826 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9396&lon=-107.8998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA150

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE WIND CONDITIONS, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - go-around - initiated
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS LANDING, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG GUST OF WIND WHICH BLEW IT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE ARPT WAS 11,600 FT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ACFT TO CLEAR OVER TREES. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND & CAME TO REST INVERTED WITH ITS TAIL & LEFT WING TORN OFF. THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR AT THE ARPT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS FROM 240 DEG AT 7 KTS. THE ARPT DIRECTORY RECOMMENDED THAT LANDINGS BE MADE ON RWY 9 & TAKEOFFS BE MADE ON RWY 27 FOR NOISE ABATEMENT REASONS. LOCAL PILOTS RPRTD THAT SUDDEN STRONG GUSTS ARE OFTEN ENCOUNTERED DRG LANDINGS AT THIS ARPT. A PLT, WHO LANDED JUST AFTER THE ACDNT, ALSO ENCOUNTERED UNFAVORABLE WIND NEAR THE APCH END OF RWY 9.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7385Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7385Y-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N R18200132 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R182
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18200132
- Airframe hours: 2157
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stringer, Henry Jerry
- Registered owner: Julian, Evan R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 1989, 93 hours before
- Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Destination: TEX
- Airport: TEX, Telluride Regional, runway 9, 6,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 5 in this make and model, 93 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19890701019099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890701019099A), Jul 1, 1989: Cessna R182, Telluride, CO, Destroyed. Hit by a gust of wind on recommended downwind runway. Tried to go around, drifted, hit trees. High density altitude

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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