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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 27, 1982 · Cessna 172G · N5803R

Mack, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 27, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Location
Mack, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 172G
Tail Number
N5803R
Operator
Sun Flying Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN83FTE02

WHILE ON A FLT FROM EVANSTON, WY TO GLENWOOD, CO, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED "CLOUD TO GROUND" CONDITINS & DIVERTED TOWARD GRAND JUNCTION, CO. HE STATED THAT DUE TO A NAV PROBLEM, HE RADIOED GRAND JUNCTION TOWER TO VERIFY HIS POSITION. GRAND JUNCTION HAD NO RADAR & WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY TRYING TO GET A FIX ON THE ACFT. THEREFORE, THEY CONTACTED DENVER CENTER (DEN CTR). DEN CTR ESTABLISHED RADAR CONTACT AT 1849 MDT. THE TOWER INFORMED THE PLT OF HIS POSITION APRX 40 MI NORTHWEST & PROVIDED A FREQ TO CONTACT DEN CTR. HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT DEN CTR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE STATED HE WAS LOSING GROUND CONTACT. FOR THE NEXT 35 MIN, TOWER & CTR MADE EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT TO HELP ORIENT THE PILOT & VECTOR HIM TO GRAND JUNCTION. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A HEADING OR AN ASSIGNED ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, THE NAV RECEIVER WAS FOUND ON 117.4 MHZ, THE GRAND JUNCTION VOR FREQ WAS 112.4 MHZ.

Full Narrative

WHILE ON A FLT FROM EVANSTON, WY TO GLENWOOD, CO, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED "CLOUD TO GROUND" CONDITINS & DIVERTED TOWARD GRAND JUNCTION, CO. HE STATED THAT DUE TO A NAV PROBLEM, HE RADIOED GRAND JUNCTION TOWER TO VERIFY HIS POSITION. GRAND JUNCTION HAD NO RADAR & WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY TRYING TO GET A FIX ON THE ACFT. THEREFORE, THEY CONTACTED DENVER CENTER (DEN CTR). DEN CTR ESTABLISHED RADAR CONTACT AT 1849 MDT. THE TOWER INFORMED THE PLT OF HIS POSITION APRX 40 MI NORTHWEST & PROVIDED A FREQ TO CONTACT DEN CTR. HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT DEN CTR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE STATED HE WAS LOSING GROUND CONTACT. FOR THE NEXT 35 MIN, TOWER & CTR MADE EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT TO HELP ORIENT THE PILOT & VECTOR HIM TO GRAND JUNCTION. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A HEADING OR AN ASSIGNED ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, THE NAV RECEIVER WAS FOUND ON 117.4 MHZ, THE GRAND JUNCTION VOR FREQ WAS 112.4 MHZ.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:29 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172G
Tail NumberN5803R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSun Flying Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind160° @ 12 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:52

Appendix: Source Data