# NTSB DEN90LA024: Cessna 182L, N42699, Dove Creek, CO, November 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1989, 12:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Dove Creek, CO
- Location: 37.7647° N, 108.8886° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DOVE CREEK (8V6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7647&lon=-108.8886&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17868
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17868/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA024

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT PILOT, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND A DELAY BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN INITIATING REMEDIAL ACTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND A STALL/MUSH AFTER THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OVER A CULTIVATED FIELD BESIDE THE RUNWAY.  RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND SOFT TERRAIN.

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING A LANDING ON A 4000 X 25 FOOT DIRT RUNWAY WITH A RIGHT, QUARTERING HEADWIND. AFTER THE STUDENT FLARED, THE AIRPLANE FLOATED ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE, THEN DRIFTED TO THE LEFT UNTIL IT WAS OVER A CULTIVATED FIELD BESIDE THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TOOK CONTROL OF THE PLANE AND ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND; HOWEVER, POWER DID NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. THE AIRPLANE THEN STALLED, LANDED HARD IN THE CULTIVATED FIELD, AND NOSED OVER.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - flare - improper, dual student (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - go-around - initiated
  - airspeed - inadequate (cause)
  - stall/mush (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42699](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42699-1992-08-05), registration cancelled 1992-08-05, S/N 18259146 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182L
- Registry model: [Cessna 182L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l) (registry code 2072726) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18259146
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Farmham, Walter B.
- Departed: TEX, TELLURIDE, CO
- Destination: TEX
- Airport: 8V6, Dove Creek, runway 1, 4,000 × 25 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; flight hours: 870 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19891122046439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891122046439A), Nov 22, 1989: Cessna 182L, Dove Creek, CO, Substantial damage. Student allowed a drift off center line on flaring too high for landing. CFI took over to go around. Stalled,crashed

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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