FTW94LA218

The pilot said the airspeed indicator did not register during the takeoff roll and climbout. Suspecting bug blockage, he turned on the pitot heat and the indicator began registering shortly thereafter. As the airplane entered a valley, it suddenly rolled right and the pilot was unable to recover. The airplane impacted terrain and burned. The pilot was rescued 3 days later. He said he suspected an erroneous airspeed indication may have led to an inadvertent stall. He also said he felt he may have encountered wind shear. The pilot refused to release the pitot tube and airspeed indicator to FAA for examination. Additionally, a cap pilot said it appeared to him the airplane had forward momentum at impact.

On June 29, 1994, approximately 0750 mountain daylight time, N2580Q, a Cessna 182K, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering approximately 9 miles south of Collbran, Colorado. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The following is based on the pilot/operator report. During the takeoff roll, the pilot noticed the airspeed indicator was not registering airspeed. Suspecting an insect might be blocking the pitot tube, he turned on the pitot heat. Shortly thereafter, the airspeed indicator began registering what he considered to be his approximate airspeed. He flew over a ridge near the Bonham Reservoir, then banked left into a valley. The airplane suddenly rolled to the right, and full left rudder and down elevator input was insufficient to effect a recovery. The pilot described the event as a "violent stall never experienced previously in stall practice. No shudder or other warning noted. Did not hear stall horn... Possible wind shear?" The pilot also surmised the pitot tube blockage "locked high pressure in pitot causing erroneous high airspeed indication. The higher I went, the more airspeed was in error."

The airplane was reported missing by the pilot's brother on June 29. The wreckage was located three days later, on July 2, and the pilot rescued. At that time, the Civil Air Patrol mission coordinator flew over the accident site and reported "the aircraft appeared to have forward momentum," and that "it did not look like it hit in one spot."

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector arrived at the accident site as a salvage crew was preparing to recover the wreckage. He asked that the pitot tube, airspeed indicator, and associated tubing be sent to him for examination and the crew agreed. Later, it was learned that the owner went to the salvage company and insisted that these items be given to him.