Cessna 182P accident near Steamboat Sprg., Colorado, April 5, 1989
On April 5, 1989 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N7248N, was destroyed in an accident near Steamboat Sprg., Colorado. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PLT'S FAILURE TO DISCONTINUE THE VFR FLIGHT WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED IMC; AND THE PLT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1989 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Steamboat Sprg., Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7248N · no longer on the register · serial 18263039
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO, VFR, EN ROUTE TO FT. COLLINS, CO, ALONG THE RADIAL OF V-101. THE PLT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. THE PLT WAS FLYING TO FT. COLLINS TO TAKE A 14 CFR 135 CHECK RIDE WITH THE FAA. THE EN ROUTE TERRAIN WAS MOUNTAINOUS WITH ELEVATIONS BETWEEN 10,000 AND 13,500 FT AND THE WEATHER WAS DESCRIBED AS IMC WITH MTN TOP OBSCURATIONS. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ARRIVE AT DESTINATION AND AN EXTENSIVE AIR AND GND SEARCH DID NOT LOCATE THE AIRPLANE. TWO MONTHS AFTER AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED MISSING, WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTH OF INTENDED ROUTE OF FLT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 13,000 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 2,150 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 1989; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-RCS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Steamboat Springs Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SBS Steamboat Sprgs CO at 6:05 pm
- Destination: FNL Ft. Collins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.