Cessna TR182 accident near Glenwood Sprngs, Colorado, June 14, 2002
On June 14, 2002 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N333AJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glenwood Sprngs, Colorado (Glenwood Springs Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while conducting an aborted landing. Contributing factors were the pilot’s low approach airspeed, and his failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2002 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Glenwood Sprngs, Colorado · Glenwood Springs Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N333AJ · registry record · serial R18201131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he was concerned about the airport's elevation and runway length, so he maintained a low approach speed. As the airplane came over the runway, airspeed started to decay. The pilot said he didn't react quickly enough, and the airplane mushed onto the runway, bounced hard twice, and drifted off the left side of the runway. He decided to abort the landing, so he raised the flaps, enrichened the mixture, and added full throttle. The airplane lifted off but its left wing struck a tree, spinning the airplane around 90 degrees. It slid 200 feet, struck some construction equipment, spun around again, and came to a halt.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 582 hours in all; 174 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 421 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 22, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,678 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 2001; 234 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V2 Longmont CO at 5:35 pm
- Destination: GWS Glenwood Sprngs CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 3,305 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 269° at 10 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from EGE, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.