Cessna 182 accident near Meeker, Colorado, January 29, 2011
On January 29, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N7199E, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Meeker, Colorado (Meeker Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control while taxiing due to his improper seat position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Meeker, Colorado · Meeker Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 B · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N7199E · registry record · serial 52199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he started the airplane’s engine in preparation for a flight to another airport. He intended to make a 90-degree left turn in order to taxi from the airport parking ramp directly toward the active runway. The pilot applied power and the airplane began to move forward and then began to turn to the left. After the airplane had turned to the desired heading, the pilot pushed right rudder pedal to stop the turn, but the airplane continued to turn to the left. The pilot then pushed the right wheel brakes, but the airplane did not stop. The airplane continued its turn to the left and the left wing and propeller impacted a snow bank on the edge of the airport parking ramp, causing substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot later said that for this particular flight he probably did not have his seat positioned far forward enough for his legs to activate either the rudder pedals or the brake pedals to the full extent of their travel.
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
- Cabin safety event during prior to flight
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,400 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 4,000 as pilot in command; 1,400 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 10, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,549 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2010; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EEO Meeker CO at 6:00 pm
- Destination: SBS Steamboat Spgs CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 6,497 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KEEO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.