# NTSB FTW94LA308: Cessna 182F, N3540U, Monte Vista, CO, September 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1994, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Monte Vista, CO - Coordinates: 37.570713, -106.139091 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5707&lon=-106.1391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19169 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19169/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA308 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL. FACTORS WERE THE CROSS WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S POOR EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED OBSERVING A 'LIMP' WIND SOCK PRIOR TO LANDING. HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'A LITTLE HIGH,' TOO FAST, AND ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR. WIND 11 MILES AWAY WAS FROM 350 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. PILOT REPORTED WIND WAS VARIABLE AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS. THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE WAS A PASSENGER. HE REPORTED A 15 KNOT TAIL WIND. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED IN SOFT TERRAIN RESULTING IN A NOSE OVER. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 1994, at 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182F, N3540U, was substantially damaged during landing at the Monte Vista Municipal Airport, Colorado. The airplane, flown by a commercial pilot, was on a local personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. One passenger received minor injuries, while the pilot and the other two passengers were not injured. Runway 02 at Monte Vista was being resurfaced and a temporary dirt strip had been built right next to and parallel to it. According to the airplane owner who was in the left front seat, the pilot landed with a 15 knot tail wind. The pilot had difficulty controlling the aircraft during landing roll due to the fast ground speed and the soft rough nature of the runway. The nose gear contacted the soft ground and was torn off; subsequently the aircraft nosed over to the inverted position. The pilot stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that while flying over the field in preparation for landing, the wind sock was "limp". He further stated that his landing touch down was "too fast" and he encountered a wind shear on the soft dirt runway causing him to have control difficulties and subsequently damaging the aircraft. Wind at the nearest reporting station, 11 miles west-northwest, was from 350 degrees at 12 knots. pilot reported wind was variable at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3540U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3540U-1995-10-10), registration cancelled 1995-10-10, S/N 18254940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182F - Registry model: [Cessna 182F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182f) (registry code 2072714) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 84593-3-R-4 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Evans, Billy W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1994, 12 hours before - Airport: MVI, Monte Vista Municipal, runway 2, 3,500 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,390 total, 1,139 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ALS, 11 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 19940923032959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940923032959A), Sep 23, 1994: Cessna 182F, Monte Vista, CO, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. To high and fast with sifting winds. Exited runway. Nosed over. 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.