Cessna 182C accident near Boulder, Colorado, August 9, 2011
On August 9, 2011 at about 11:14 pm local time, a 1960 Cessna 182C, registered N8717T, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Boulder, Colorado. It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The malfunction of the throttle linkage to the induction air box, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2011 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C, built 1960 · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8717T · no longer on the register · serial 52617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After two parachutists jumped from the airplane, the pilot began a descent and applied carburetor heat. The pilot reduced power for a straight-in approach while the airplane was passing through 9,000 feet mean sea level and about 3 miles from the destination airport. She then attempted to add power to adjust the descent rate, but the engine did not respond. The pilot then fully reduced the engine power then tried to advance the throttle with no response. After performing the power loss checklist, she continued toward the runway but, after encountering a downdraft, she chose to conduct a forced landing to an open field. Upon touchdown, the airplane collided with trees at the edge of the field. The propeller assembly was found attached to the engine hub, and both blades were straight with little damage consistent with them not being powered at the time of impact. About 5 gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank and about 0.5 gallon was drained from the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the "both" position. Because of the fuel leakage due to impact damage, it was not possible to determine exactly how much fuel was onboard at the time of the accident; however, enough fuel was present in the lines to determine that fuel starvation did not occur. No evidence of debris, obstructions, or water contamination was identified in the fuel gascolator. About 8.5 quarts of oil were found in the engine. Some oil residue was found on the belly skin of the airplane and was identified to have originated from an aftermarket oil drain installation. The front underside of the airframe was damaged and pushed upward underneath the engine compartment near the air induction box. When moved by hand, the throttle linkage to the air induction box did not move smoothly and was stiff. The throttle linkage to the induction box was adjusted, and the engine was test run while still in the airframe mounts. It started normally and ran at various power settings with no anomalies noted. Throughout the engine test run, the engine accelerated normally. A magneto rpm drop check was normal. The damage underneath the engine compartment near the box precluded a determination of whether the throttle linkage anomaly was present before impact. However, given that the engine ran normally after the throttle linkage adjustment, it is likely that the throttle linkage anomaly did occur before impact and contributed to the loss of engine power.
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 engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 556 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 453 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 7, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,853 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fly High Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: KBDU Boulder CO at 10:45 pm
- Destination: KBDU Boulder CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from BJC, 9 miles away
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.