# NTSB DEN90FA192: Cessna 182P, N9643G, Marble, CO, September 22, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 1990, 11:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Marble, CO - Coordinates: 39.389896, -107.210945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3899&lon=-107.2109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 17, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 17848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17848/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA192 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PRIVATE PILOT (STUDENT PILOT) TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED ABOVE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) AND HER DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND DIVERSION OF THE CFI'S ATTENTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - altitude - inadequate, dual student (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - stall/mush ## Analysis THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS PROVIDING A MOUNTAIN (MTN) FLYING CHECK-OUT TO A PVT PLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT BEFORE THE ACFT CRASHED, IT WAS FLYING 'VERY LOW' UP THE MIDDLE OF A VALLEY TOWARD A 12,700' MTN PASS. IT THEN ENTERED A TURN & DISAPPEARED FROM THEIR VIEW BEFORE CRASHING. IMPACT OCCURRED AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 11,200'. THE PVT PLT WAS FATALLY INJURED; THE CFI & PASSENGER RCVD SERIOUS INJURIES. THE CFI (A 95 LB WOMAN) STATED THAT THE PVT PLT WAS BIGGER THAN HER & THAT HE KEPT OVERPOWERING HER. SHE SAID HE DID NOT FIGHT HER FOR THE CTLS, BUT WOULD NOT FOLLOW HER ADVICE TO KEEP THE NOSE DOWN TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED, & THAT HE WOULD NOT FLY ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF VALLEYS. AFTER SHE DIVERTED HER ATTENTION TO LOOK AT A MAP, SHE LOOKED UP & NOTED THEY WERE IN A VALLEY WITH RISING TERRAIN ON ALL SIDES. THE PVT PLT RELINQUISHED THE CTLS & THE CFI ATMTD TO REVERSE DIRECTION, BUT THE ACFT IMPACTED THE SIDE OF THE VALLEY. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9643G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9643G-1992-03-23), registration cancelled 1992-03-23, S/N 18263412 (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: 18263412 - Airframe hours: 2750 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: S W Aircraft, Inc. - Registered owner: S.W. Aircraft Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 10, 1990, 4 hours before - Departed: LUX, LEADVILLE, CO - Destination: GUC, GUNNISON, CO - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,035 total, 24 in this make and model, 976 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GUC, 29 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 19900922041499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900922041499A), Sep 22, 1990: Cessna 182P, Marble, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Encountered downdraft in middle of mountain valley. Stall mushed into hillside. Too low and in exposed valley center ## Other investigations on N9643G (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 CHI77FEX08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEX08), Jan 19, 1977: Cessna 182 (N9643G), Mt. Vernon, IN, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.