Cessna A185F accident near Grand Junction, Colorado, March 27, 2003
On March 27, 2003 at about 1:17 am local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N53008, was destroyed in an accident near Grand Junction, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poor judgment and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the high winds and downdrafts, and the pilot's self-induced pressure to go home.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2003 · about 1:17 am local time
- Place
- Grand Junction, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N53008 · no longer on the register · serial 18502313
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The wind was from 230 to 280 at 24 knots when the pilot taxied for an intersection takeoff from runway 29. The tower controller said that during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted off the right side of the runway and stirred up a cloud of dust. Other witnesses saw the dust cloud, but thought it was due to propeller wash or a wind gust. Immediately after liftoff, the airplane "took on a pronounced crab to the left into the wind." The pilot remarked, "Well, that was gustier than I thought, guys." The controller replied, "...looks pretty rough up there." As the airplane flew away the controller remarked, "Sure does not look like an attractive flight this evening." The pilot answered, "No, but it is time to go home." Nearby workmen said that on the evening of the accident, there was scattered rain showers of moderate intensity in the area. The airplane was found 2 days later. No discrepancies were noted during the wreckage examination. The airplane was certificated in the restricted category, and approved for "agriculture and pest control" operations. Only the two front seats were installed in the airplane. The rear two seats had been removed and were later found in the pilot's hangar. In addition to the pilot, there were three passengers aboard.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,069 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,754 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2001; 123 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 1:12 am
- Destination: EGE Eagle CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.