Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
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2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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1 Fatal
Antonito, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On August 5, 2003, at approximately 1345 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N1344S, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain 27 miles west-northwest of Antonito, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole person on board the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight was one leg of a cross-country flight that originated at Las Animas, Colorado, and was en route to Fremont, California.
Several witnesses observed a high-wing, single-engine airplane flying at low altitude in the vicinity of the accident site, at approximately 1200. The airplane was traveling north through the canyon. One witness said he could definitely see the airplane was flying lower than the mountains on the far side of the canyon.
At approximately 1345, a U. S. Forest Service fire team received a report of bluish-colored smoke "near Elwood cabin." The fire team arrived at the accident site at 1539 and confirmed that the smoke was from an airplane accident.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land airplane rating, dated March 24, 1997.
According to insurance company records, the pilot reported having 470 total flying hours with 230 hours in make and model, as of June 6, 2003.
The pilot held a 3rd class medical certificate dated April 26, 2002, and stated in the limitations section that the "Holder must wear corrective lenses."
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane, serial number 18264987, was manufactured in 1976 and owned by Aerphoto.com Limited Liability Corporation, Fremont, California. The airplane was used for business and pleasure.
According to the aircraft logbook, the airplane underwent an annual inspection on April 9, 2003. The total airframe time recorded at the annual inspection was 2,286.0 hours. The last entry in the airframe logbook was on July 4, 2003. At that time, the airplane had 2,342.2 total hours. The airplane's tachometer and Hobbs meter were destroyed in the accident.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1152, the aviation routine weather report at Alamosa, Colorado, 38 miles east-northeast of the accident site, was clear skies, 10 miles visibility, temperature 66 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 52 degrees F, winds 360 degrees at 5 knots, and altimeter 30.28.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The National Transportation Safety Board's on scene investigation began on August 6, 2003, at 1400.
The accident site was located on a treed mountainside in the Rio Grande National Forest at coordinates 37 degrees, 23.41 minutes north latitude, and 106 degrees, 37.06 minutes west longitude. The accident site was on a 65-degree slope at an elevation of approximately 11,450 feet msl.
The accident site began with a severed fir tree preceding the main wreckage by approximately 300 feet. The fir tree
On August 5, 2003, at approximately 1345 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N1344S, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain 27 miles west-northwest of Antonito, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole person on board the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight was one leg of a cross-country flight that originated at Las Animas, Colorado, and was en route to Fremont, California.
Several witnesses observed a high-wing, single-engine airplane flying at low altitude in the vicinity of the accident site, at approximately 1200. The airplane was traveling north through the canyon. One witness said he could definitely see the airplane was flying lower than the mountains on the far side of the canyon.
At approximately 1345, a U. S. Forest Service fire team received a report of bluish-colored smoke "near Elwood cabin." The fire team arrived at the accident site at 1539 and confirmed that the smoke was from an airplane accident.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land airplane rating, dated March 24, 1997.
According to insurance company records, the pilot reported having 470 total flying hours with 230 hours in make and model, as of June 6, 2003.
The pilot held a 3rd class medical certificate dated April 26, 2002, and stated in the limitations section that the "Holder must wear corrective lenses."
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane, serial number 18264987, was manufactured in 1976 and owned by Aerphoto.com Limited Liability Corporation, Fremont, California. The airplane was used for business and pleasure.
According to the aircraft logbook, the airplane underwent an annual inspection on April 9, 2003. The total airframe time recorded at the annual inspection was 2,286.0 hours. The last entry in the airframe logbook was on July 4, 2003. At that time, the airplane had 2,342.2 total hours. The airplane's tachometer and Hobbs meter were destroyed in the accident.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1152, the aviation routine weather report at Alamosa, Colorado, 38 miles east-northeast of the accident site, was clear skies, 10 miles visibility, temperature 66 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 52 degrees F, winds 360 degrees at 5 knots, and altimeter 30.28.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The National Transportation Safety Board's on scene investigation began on August 6, 2003, at 1400.
The accident site was located on a treed mountainside in the Rio Grande National Forest at coordinates 37 degrees, 23.41 minutes north latitude, and 106 degrees, 37.06 minutes west longitude. The accident site was on a 65-degree slope at an elevation of approximately 11,450 feet msl.
The accident site began with a severed fir tree preceding the main wreckage by approximately 300 feet. The fir tree
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Details
| NTSB Report | DEN03FA137 |
| Aircraft | Cessna 182P |
| Registration | N1344S |
| Damage | DEST |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 37.3903, -106.6178 |
