# NTSB FTW94FA315: Cessna 182K, N2504Q, Heeney, CO, September 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 1994, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Heeney, CO - Coordinates: 39.650783, -106.079467 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6508&lon=-106.0795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94FA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18929/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA315 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE RISING TERRAIN. ## 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 - rising (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED BOULDER AIRPORT (1V5), BOULDER, COLORADO, AT 0730 ON A FLIGHT TO PHOTOGRAPH THE AUTUMN ASPEN TREES. AT 1400, A MOUNTAIN BIKER ON THE COLORADO TRAIL NEAR LAKE MAHAN SAW THE WRECKAGE OF THE AIRPLANE, AND REPORTED IT TO A COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE OFFICER. THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT PATH PRIOR TO TERRAIN IMPACT WAS ALONG RISING TERRAIN. THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,400 FEET. BASED ON DATA PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER, IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT AT THE ALTITUDE DESCRIBED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN THE DESIGNED PERFORMANCE LIMIT. A BRANCH FROM THE TOP OF A 60 TO 75 FOOT TREE WAS FOUND DOWNHILL, 375 FEET FROM THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE. TWO OTHER BRANCHES FROM THE TOPS OF TREES WERE FOUND IN LINE AND BETWEEN THE FIRST PIECE AND THE WRECKAGE. A LARGE TREE, 20 INCHES IN DIAMETER, LOCATED 68 FEET FROM THE WRECKAGE WAS SHEARED 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 28, 1994, at 0845 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182K, N2504Q, was destroyed while maneuvering near Heeney, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial photography flight. According to the operator the airplane departed Boulder Airport (1V5), Boulder, Colorado, at approximately 0730. The flight was to over-fly Corona Pass, Dillon, Glenwood Springs, Steamboat Springs, and Granby, with an estimated time of return to Boulder Airport of 1000. At 1400, a mountain biker on the Colorado Trail near Lake Mahan saw the wreckage of the airplane, and reported it to a Colorado Division of Wildlife officer. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The passenger was a certificated private pilot. He had rented the airplane from a local fixed base operator the day of the accident for the planned flight to photograph the autumn aspen trees. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION A review of the airframe and engine records did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects. Performance and weight and balance calculations were performed using data provided by the manufacturer. An estimate of the weight of the airplane at the time of the accident places it within limits. Performance data indicates the airplane's maximum rate-of-climb was 720 feet per minute with an indicated airspeed of 82 miles per hour at an altitude of 10,000 feet mean sea level. Based on data provided by the manufacturer, it was established that at the altitude described, the aircraft was within the designed performance limit. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft wreckage was located west of Heeney, Colorado, at latitude 29 degrees 49 minutes 43 seconds north and longitude 106 degrees 23 minutes 12 seconds west. The elevation of the accident site was approximately 10,400 feet. The aircraft came to rest inverted at the initial ground scar on a magnetic heading of 130 degrees. A branch from the top of a 60 to 75 foot tree was found downhill, 375 feet from the airplane wreckage. Two other branches from the tops of trees were found in line and between the first piece and the wreckage. A large tree, 20 inches in diameter, located 68 feet from the wreckage was sheared 30 feet above the ground. Pieces of that tree were located at the initial ground scar. Several of these pieces had paint transfers. The left main landing gear, right wing tip, propeller, and nose landing gear were separated from the aircraft. The fuselage, empennage, and both left and right wings exhibited compression buckling. The propeller blades exhibited torsional bending, chordwise scoring, and leading edge gouging. The flight control cables were verified for their continuity from the control surfaces up through the cabin area. Examination of the airplane and engine did not disclose any mechanical anomalies. See enclosed wreckage diagram for wreckage distribution details. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The autopsy was performed by Ben Galloway, M.D., at the Tomford Mortuary in Idaho Springs, Colorado. Toxicological findings were negative. ADDITIONAL DATA The airplane wreckage was released to the operator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2504Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2504Q-2012-09-10), registration cancelled 2012-09-10, S/N 18257704, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182K - Registry model: [Cessna 182K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182k) (registry code 2072724) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18257704 - Airframe hours: 2099 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Flatirons Aviation - Registered owner: Farley Machine, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1994, 76 hours before - Departed: 1V5, BOULDER, CO - Destination: 1V5, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ASE, 50 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 19940928032159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940928032159A), Sep 28, 1994: Cessna 182K, Heeney, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crashed during aerial photography vicinity, hikers discovered aircraft. 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.