# NTSB FTW85LA098: Cessna 182Q, N735QN, Abilene, TX, January 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 1985, 18:45 local (Jan 20, 1985, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Location: 32.2957° N, 99.6747° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ABILENE RGNL (ABI), within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2957&lon=-99.6747&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21658
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21658/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA098

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - performed, pilot in command
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

DETERIORATING WX WAS ENCOUNTERED & THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND SHORT OF THE ORIGINAL DESTN. HE WAS PROVIDED VECTORS FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 35R AT ABILINE, TX. DURING THE NIGHT APCH, HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG GUSTY WINDS, SEVERE TURBULENCE & RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. THE PLT STATED THAT AT LEAST ONE TIME, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED 20 KTS, INDICATING WIND SHEAR. ALSO, HE STATED THAT AS HE CONTACTED THE TOWER, HE GOT A BRIEF LOOK AT THE ARPT LIGHTS & STARTED A GENTLE TURN TO CORRECT TO THE LOCALIZER. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, AFTER HE WAS CLEARED FOR THE ILS APCH & LANDING, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND WHILE STILL SOUTH OF THE OUTER MARKER. PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT HAD OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING & WAS WARNED OF WIDE SPREAD CLOUD COVER, GUSTY WINDS & WIND SHEAR ASSOCIATED WITH A PASSING FRONTAL SYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N735QN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N735QN-2014-11-17), registration cancelled 2014-11-17, S/N 18265602, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18265602
- Airframe hours: 683
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Woodward
- Registered owner: Ruth Ann Woodward/Ted Croom
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 1984, 122 hours before
- Departed: FTW, FORT WORTH, TX
- Destination: ABI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ABI, Abilene Muni, runway 35R, 7,200 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 464 total, 26 in this make and model, 233 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABI, 8 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 19850119002129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850119002129A), Jan 19, 1985: Cessna 182Q, Abilene, TX, Destroyed. Descended too low on initial approach segment, impacted ground. Turbulence probably caused inattention to 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.

---
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.