Cessna 180 and Cessna P210 mid-air collision near Whitewater, Colorado, October 22, 2008
On October 22, 2008 at about 2:57 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 180 (N3389D) and Cessna P210 (N731NX), were involved in a mid-air collision near Whitewater, Colorado. No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing factors in this accident were the Cessna 180 pilot's attention being diverted and the Cessna 210 pilot's vision being affected by the sun glare.
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing factors in this accident were the Cessna 180 pilot's attention being diverted and the Cessna 210 pilot's vision being affected by the sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2008 · about 2:57 pm local time
- Place
- Whitewater, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3389D · registry record · serial 32187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna P210 N · all P210s on the register
- Registration
- N731NX · registry record · serial P21000515
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the Cessna 180, he was descending westbound from 16,500 feet to 8,500 feet. As he passed 10,500 feet, he peered out the passenger window, hoping to catch a glimpse of deer. At approximately 10,000 feet, his passenger yelled and he saw the other airplane approaching head-on. He dove his airplane, then felt an impact. He made a forced landing in a field and the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot of the other airplane, he was climbing eastbound between 9,500 and 10,500 feet into the sun when he heard a loud "bang" and thought that he had struck a bird. He elected to return to the airport to have the damage assessed. After several unsuccessful attempts to lower the nose gear, the pilot landed the airplane with the nose gear up. The airplane skidded on its nose for approximately 300 feet before coming to a stop.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna P210 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the Cessna 180, he was descending westbound from 16,500 feet to 8,500 feet. As he passed 10,500 feet, he peered out the passenger window, hoping to catch a glimpse of deer. At approximately 10,000 feet, his passenger yelled and he saw the other airplane approaching head-on. He dove his airplane, then felt an impact. He made a forced landing in a field and the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot of the other airplane, he was climbing eastbound between 9,500 and 10,500 feet into the sun when he heard a loud "bang" and thought that he had struck a bird. He elected to return to the airport to have the damage assessed. After several unsuccessful attempts to lower the nose gear, the pilot landed the airplane with the nose gear up. The airplane skidded on its nose for approximately 300 feet before coming to a stop.
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 for the Cessna 180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (descent) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,840 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7,600 as pilot in command; 1,040 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 2008; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Miel Del Rio Grande, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 8V1 Del Norte CO at 1:24 pm
- Destination: VNL Vernal UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.52 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from GJT, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna P210 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private, student
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,239 hours in all; 5,593 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 17,969 as pilot in command; 9,232 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,093 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2008; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,016 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mesa County
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 2:27 pm
- Destination: 1V6 Florence CO
- Flight plan: VFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3389D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
1983-12-30DEN84LA056 · accident near Florissant, CO · substantial damage · no injuries
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.