Cessna 182M accident near Nucla, Colorado, May 12, 1984
On May 12, 1984 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 182M, registered N71429, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nucla, Colorado. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- May 12, 1984 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Nucla, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N71429 · no longer on the register · serial 18259618
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED, 'I MADE ONE PASS ON LOW BOUNDRY SPREADING 100% OF SEED AND BEGAN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN TO MAKE A PASS FROM HIGH SIDE DOWN EAST BOUNDRY. I REACHED ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 300 FT AGL (ABOVE GROUND LEVEL) AND ATTEMPTED TO PASS OVER TELEPHONE DRAW RIDGE WHEN I ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWN DRAFT. I APPLIED FULL CLIMB POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN TO LOWER GROUND BUT WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME SINK AND CLEAR TERRAIN. I THEN FLARED THE PLANE TO A LANDING ALTITUDE JUST BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN TO MINIMIZE SPEED AND DAMAGE. I DON'T RECALL MUCH AFTER IMPACT BUT INDICATIONS ARE THAT LEFT WING AND MAIN STRUCK FIRST CAUSING 180 DEGREE COUNTER CLOCKWISE ROTATION, THEN TAIL STRUCK AND COLLAPSED LETTING PLANE LAND ON BACK ON TOP OF TAIL.' DENSITY ALT OVER THE 6700 FT MSL TERRAIN WAS 9205 FT.
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: 338 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 247 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1983; 246 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6V6 Nucla CO at 4:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.