Cessna 182N accident near Climax, Colorado, August 17, 1991
On August 17, 1991 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182N, registered N76AM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Climax, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE NON-RATED PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF QUALIFICATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1991 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Climax, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N76AM · registry record · serial 18260244
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS STOLEN ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT BY A NON PILOT RATED PERSON. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT AND THE DESTINATION ARE UNKNOWN. THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM COLORADO SPRINGS AND FLEW A COURSE TO THE NORTHWEST AND EVENTUALLY INTO A BOX CANYON IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. WITNESSES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT OBSERVED THE PILOT PULL THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT UP STEEPLY IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLY OUT OF THE BOX CANYON. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED SUDDENLY AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND.
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
- Flight time: 10 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Spring CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.