# NTSB GAA19CA257: Cessna 182, N6314B, Glades Park, CO, May 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2019, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Glades Park, CO - Coordinates: 39.019165, -108.767776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0192&lon=-108.7678&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA257 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and climb rate during takeoff in high-density altitude conditions, which resulted in his failure to clear power lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before departing from a high-altitude (6,830 ft mean sea level), 1,600-ft-long private, dirt airstrip, he set the flaps to 10° and trimmed the airplane. He added that, during takeoff, he advanced the throttle and that the airplane "accelerated well" and that he anticipated that the airplane would become airborne near the first of the runway's "two step downs," which was about 1,000 ft down the runway. He further reported that, although the wind was light and variable, he would be departing with a tailwind. At the first stepdown, he saw that the airspeed was low but he believed that he had gone beyond a "safe shut down point," so he chose to continue the takeoff believing that he would be able to clear the power lines near the departure end of the runway. The airplane became airborne near the departure end of the runway but was unable to maintain a sufficient climb rate to clear the power lines. The airplane struck two sets of power lines and impacted an embankment, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The calculated density altitude was 8,985 ft. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, before departing from a high altitude (6,830 ft mean sea level), 1,600 ft private, dirt airstrip, he set the wing flaps to 10° and trimmed the airplane. During takeoff, he advanced the throttle and the airplane "accelerated well". He anticipated becoming airborne near the first of the runway's "two step downs", which was about 1,000 ft down the runway. He further reported that during landing he noted the prevailing wind direction, and although light and variable he would be departing with a tailwind. At the step down, he observed that the airspeed was low, but felt that he had gone beyond a "safe shut down point", so he chose to continue the takeoff with the belief that he would be able to clear power lines near the departure end of the runway. The airplane became airborne near the departure end of the runway but was unable to maintain a climb rate enough to clear the power lines. The airplane struck two sets of power lines, impacted an embankment, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located 13 miles northeast of the accident site reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots, clear skies, temperature 68°F, dew point 30°F, altimeter setting 29.96" Hg. The calculated density altitude was 8,985 ft. The pilot departed to the southeast. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6314B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6314B), registered now, S/N 34214, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34214 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 5418.3 - Engines: Continental O-520-UTS reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2018 - Departed: Pvt, Glades Park, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: Pvt, Reese Private Strip, runway E, 1,600 × 50 ft, dirt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 11,800 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KGJT, 13 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 20190511004469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190511004469A), May 11, 2019: Cessna 182A, Glade Park, CO, Substantial damage. During taking off from a private unimproved strip (no identifier) 2.5 miles nw of Glade Park Colorado, the aircraft settled and hit several power lines at the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99416. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.