# NTSB FTW98LA343: Cessna 182R, N5099E, Watkins, CO, August 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1998, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.750904, -104.599952 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7509&lon=-104.6000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43612 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43612/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA343 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control during taxi due to excessive taxi speed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot was 40 miles from the intended destination when a level 6 thunderstorm was reported to be over the airport at the time of estimated arrival, and he diverted to another airport. He landed on runway 35 and exited the runway. The pilot stated that the taxiway over to the terminal appeared to be approximately 2 miles away, and in order to save time, he taxied at a speed of 25 to 30 mph. There was a rise in the taxiway, and the pilot was unable to see the right taxiway exit in enough time to slow his taxi speed in order to execute a right turn. As a result, the aircraft departed the taxiway, and came to rest in a ditch west of the taxiway, approximately 15 feet below the taxiway pavement. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1998, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182R, N5099E, sustained substantial damage when the pilot failed to negotiate a turn while taxiing from landing at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed for this cross-country flight which originated from Omaha, Nebraska, at 1200 central daylight time, with an intended destination of Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he was 40 miles from Centennial Airport when a level 6 thunderstorm was reported to be over the destination airport at the time of intended arrival. He made the decision to divert to Front Range Airport. He landed on runway 35 (8000 ft. x 100 ft., asphalt) and exited the runway. The pilot stated that the taxiway over to the terminal appeared to be approximately 2 miles away, and in order to save time, he taxied at a speed of 25 to 30 mph. There was a rise in the taxiway, and the pilot was unable to see the right taxiway exit in enough time to slow his taxi speed and execute a right turn. The aircraft departed the taxiway, and came to rest in a ditch west of the taxiway, approximately 15 feet below the taxiway pavement. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that there was damage to the propeller, the engine, engine mount, and firewall. There was also damage to the landing gear, wing tips, and propeller. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5099E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5099E-2014-02-11), registration cancelled 2014-02-11, S/N 18268288, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182R - Registry model: [Cessna 182R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182r) (registry code 2072731) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18268288 - Airframe hours: 1945 - Engines: Continental O-470- 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William H. Wallace - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1998, 41 hours before - Departed: OMA, OMAHA, NE - Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO - Airport: FTG, Front Range Airport, runway 35, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,505 total, 960 in this make and model, 1,505 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DEN, 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 19980803019769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980803019769A), Aug 3, 1998: Cessna 182R, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Acft landed too fast, missed a turn while taxiing went down an embaknment, and came to rest in a ditch. (.4)the pilot was 40 miles from the intended… 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.