# NTSB DEN90FA022: Cessna 182F, N3625U, Oakley, UT, November 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 10, 1989, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Oakley, UT
- Coordinates: 40.809226, -111.109451 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8092&lon=-111.1095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17809
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17809/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA022

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION, MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TREES, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, LOW AIRSPEED, AND TREES WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

THE PLT & PAX INTENDED TO LOOK OVR PROPERTY & LOOK FOR MOOSE. THE PLT RPRTD THEY FLEW UP & DOWN SVRL CANYONS AT ALTS BTN8000 & 10,000 FT MSL. SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING A 45 DEG BANK TURN FOR A 2ND PASS OVER AN AREA, THE PLT HEARD A 'MUFFLED POP' THAT HE BELIEVED HAD COME FROM THE FWD PART OF THE ACFT. HE SAID HE NOTED A FLUCTUATION OF THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE & BELIEVED HE HAD AN ENG PRBLM. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED ON SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. DENSITY ALTITUDEWAS APRX 11,000 FT. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER (WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES) WALKED 6 MI FOR HELP. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED WHEN THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HIT A TREE AT APRX 35 FT AGL & 460 FT FROM THE FINAL RESTING PLACE. THE ACFT THEN FLEW APRX 300 FT, WHERE THE LEFT WING TIP HIT A 2ND TREE. BEYOND THE 2ND TREE, THE PROP HAD SEVERED NUMEROUS TREE BRANCHES. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER STATED THE ACFT WAS CIRCLING AT LOW ALT; SHE DIDN'T HEAR ANY CHANGE IN ENG SOUND, BUT HEARD THE STALL WARNING JUST BFR CRASHING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3625U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3625U-1994-05-18), registration cancelled 1994-05-18, S/N 18255025 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182F
- Registry model: [Cessna 182F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182f) (registry code 2072714) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18255025
- Airframe hours: 4389
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hill Flying Club
- Registered owner: Hill Flying Club, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 1989, 476 hours before
- Departed: OGD, OGDEN, UT
- Destination: OGD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 19 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °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 19891110044939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891110044939A), Nov 10, 1989: Cessna 182F, Oakley, UT, Destroyed. Flew into trees while circling at low altitude in a mountain pass. Pilot failed to avoid trees at low altitude.

## Other investigations on N3625U (1)

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.

- [NTSB UNK64X1151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1151), Apr 3, 1964: Cessna 182F (N3625U), Yosemite N Pa, CA, substantial damage

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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