# NTSB FTW94FA059: Cessna 177RG, N53049, La Veta, CO, January 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: January 1, 1994, 12:24 local (19:24 UTC) - Place: La Veta, CO - Coordinates: 37.509468, -105.000953 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5095&lon=-105.0010&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18877 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94FA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18877/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA059 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO ENTER A MOUNTAIN PASS AT AN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE TO BE EXCEEDED. FACTORS WERE TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (cause) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, climb - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT ENTERED 9,380-FOOT LA VETA PASS AT 8,000 FEET MSL. HE SAID HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS AS HE APPROACHED THE SUMMIT, AND THE AIRPLANE 'COULDN'T GENERATE ANY LIFT' AND STALLED. MOMENTS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, ANOTHER PILOT REPORTED OCCASIONAL MODERATE TO EXTREME TURBULENCE IN THE VICINITY. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 1, 1994, approximately 1224 mountain standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N53049, was destroyed when it struck trees near the top of 9,380-foot La Veta Pass, about 11 miles northwest of La Veta, Colorado. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, two passengers received minor injuries, and another passenger was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The following is based on the Pilot/Operator report and a telephone interview with the pilot. According to the weather briefing he obtained prior to departure, only light to moderate turbulence around the Broomfield area was forecast. As the airplane passed Pueblo, Colorado, the Denver Automated Flight Service Station advised the pilot of "light chop" in the area. The flight was uneventful until they entered La Veta Pass at 8000 feet. Approaching the summit, they encountered turbulence and downdrafts. He said the airplane "couldn't generate any lift" and stalled. The airplane struck aspen trees and travelled approximately 100 feet on a magnetic heading of 265 degrees before coming to rest in an inverted attitude. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1220, a Beech 35 pilot, flying at 12,500 feet MSL, filed a pilot report (PIREP), in which he reported light turbulence and altocumulus standing lenticular clouds northwest of La Veta Pass. Ten minutes later, the pilot filed another PIREP, reporting occasional moderate turbulence and 1500 feet per minute up and downdrafts west of the pass. At 1259, the pilot filed a third PIREP, reporting extreme turbulence, and noted he was "almost turned upside down" southeast of La Veta Pass in the Sangre de Cristos mountain range. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage was released to the owner's representative on January 2, 1994. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53049](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53049-1994-03-17), registration cancelled 1994-03-17, S/N 177RG1331 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG1331 - Airframe hours: 5542 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: R&R Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 1993, 27 hours before - Departed: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO - Destination: ALS, ALAMOSA, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 205 total, 20 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ALS, 32 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 19940101000089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940101000089A), Jan 1, 1994: Cessna 177RG, Laveta, CO, Destroyed. Entered pass below summit altitude. Severe turbulence and downdraft. Stalled climbing. High density altitude. ## Other investigations on N53049 (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 DEN88LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA190), Aug 18, 1988: Cessna 177RG (N53049), Broomfield, CO, 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.