Cessna 182G accident near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, September 27, 2015
On September 27, 2015 at about 3:46 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 182G, registered N3147S, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat, which resulted in a forced landing on rough/uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2015 · about 3:46 pm local time
- Place
- Glenwood Springs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G G, built 1964 · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3147S · no longer on the register · serial 18255647
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, listened to a recorded weather report, and departed on a local flight. About 15 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of 9,700 ft above mean sea level, he realized the engine was at full throttle and had no more power to climb. He later reported that the electronic engine monitor indicated he "lost cylinder #2 and #4 was going down." He also stated that the engine did not completely stop producing power, but it was "running very low." The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to an open field. The airplane touched down twice, impacted a ditch, and nosed over. The examination of the airframe and test run of the engine and did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. The local temperature and dew point were plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart, which indicated that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. Further, review of recorded information from the airplane's engine monitor showed data consistent with a loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat during the flight, thus it is likely that the engine lost power due to carburetor ice, which could have been prevented with the application of carburetor heat.
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
- Other weather encounter during enroute
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,593 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASE Aspen CO at 3:29 pm
- Destination: ASE Aspen CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from KEGE, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.