# NTSB GAA18CA262: Cessna 182, N632EP, Albuquerque, NM, May 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 7, 2018, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.595832, -106.901947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5958&lon=-106.9019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA262 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue flight in mountainous terrain with downdraft conditions, which necessitated a precautionary landing on unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while en route, the air was "unstable and choppy," and the airplane did not climb as expected. He added that the airplane "managed to climb to 9,500 [ft mean sea level] and maintain the altitude" but then had a "sudden and violent drop in altitude followed by a down draft." Subsequently, the airplane descended to 500 ft above the ground and was between two hills and still "struggling to climb." He observed what appeared to be a dirt plateau followed by a cliff and decided to land on the plateau to "avoid possibly falling off the cliff." During the landing, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while enroute, the air was "unstable and choppy", and the airplane did not climb as expected. He added that the airplane "managed to climb to 9,500 [ft mean sea level] and maintain the altitude", but then had a "sudden and violent drop in altitude followed by a down draft". Subsequently, the airplane descended to 500 ft above the ground, the airplane was between two hills and still "struggling to climb". He observed what appeared to be a dirt plateau followed by a cliff, and decided to land on the plateau to "avoid possibly falling off the cliff". During the landing, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N632EP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N632EP-2019-06-12), registration cancelled 2019-06-12, S/N 18267695, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (Q) - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18267695 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 4070 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 2017 - Departed: CNM, CARLSBAD, NM - Destination: FMN, FARMINGTON, NM - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 14, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 112 total, 59 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Turbulence: Severe - Observed at: KAEG, 28 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 20180507004899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180507004899A), May 7, 2018: Cessna 182Q, San Ysidro, NM, Destroyed. On may 7, 2018 at 1850 MDT, a Cessna 182Q, N632EP, registered to orlando moreno, made a precautionary landing in a field 30 miles northwest of San Ysidro, NM… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97205. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 954 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Master.PDF 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.