Cessna 182H accident near Hayden, Colorado, April 6, 1983
On April 6, 1983 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N2971Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayden, Colorado (Yampa Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1983 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hayden, Colorado · Yampa Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2971Y · no longer on the register · serial 18253971
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE AND CRASHED AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE ACFT MADE A NORMAL TAKEOFF BUT DURING CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND DARK SMOKE CAME OUT. THE ACFT TURNED LEFT THEN STEEPLY RIGHT BEFORE HITTING THE POWER LINE. THIS ACFT WAS FLOWN 3 TIMES IN 1982 AND TWICE PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE ACC IN 1983. THE LAST TIME THE ACFT WAS REFUELED WAS IN SEPT, 1982. THE ACFT WAS PARKED OUTDOORS. THE GAS CAP IN THE WING SHOWED AREAS OF RUST AND CORROSION PREVENTING A TIGHT SEAL. MOISTURE COULD LEAK INTO THE FUEL TANK FROM RAIN AND MELTINGSNOW. ON 4/11/83 THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS EXAMINED BY CUTTING INTO IT. THE BLADDER WAS SEVERELY WRINKLED ON THE BOTTOM. THE WRINKLING PRODUCED POCKETS LARGE ENOUGH TO TRAP ABOUT 1 GALLON OF WATER. THIS WATER WOULD NOT REACH THE DRAIN SUMP WITH THE ACFT IN A LEVEL PARKED POSITION. THE NTSB HAS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO FAA CONCERNING WATER IN FUEL AND EVALUATION OF BLADDER TYPE FUEL TANKS.
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: 238 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 217 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,505 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1982; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 1V4 Fort Collins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from HDN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.