Cessna 182P accident near Gateway, Colorado, August 2, 2009
On August 2, 2009 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N61TM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Gateway, Colorado (Hubbard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control due to soft runway conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2009 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gateway, Colorado · Hubbard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N61TM · registry record · serial 18261926
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on a dirt airstrip, the airplane's left main wheel encountered soft dirt and the airplane subsequently exited the side of the runway. Shortly thereafter, the nose gear sunk into soft terrain and the airplane nosed over coming to rest in an inverted position. The pilot and two passengers were able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that the vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage. There were no reported problems with the airplane's flight controls.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Soft › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,729 hours in all; 583 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 2, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,585 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTJ Montrose CO at 3:15 pm
- Destination: 9CO3 Gateway CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.