Cessna 182Q accident near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, July 30, 1993
On July 30, 1993 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered CGLIL, was destroyed in an accident near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DECISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO FLY AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S ATTENTION BEING MOMENTARILY DIVERTED AND THE AIRPLANE'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE BEING EXCEEDED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1993 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pagosa Springs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- CGLIL · no longer on the register · serial 182-66627
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ALTERED COURSE SLIGHTLY TO THE SOUTH TO AVOID A THUNDERSTORM AND BEGAN FOLLOWING A ROAD. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ROAD DISAPPEARED FROM SIGHT AND THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS MOMENTARILY DIVERTED OUTSIDE THE AIRPLANE. SHE THEN REALIZED THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WAS RISING FASTER THAN THE AIRPLANE'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE. SHE ELECTED NOT TO RISK TURNING AROUND BUT TO CONTINUE AHEAD AND LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE BRUSHED THE TOPS OF SEVERAL TREES. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, BOUNCED ONCE, SLID APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET BEFORE STRIKING A ROCK THAT SHEARED THE NOSEWHEEL, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command; 1,850 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,669 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 9, 1993; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Centennial Flight Centre, LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: DRO Durango CO at 11:15 pm
- Destination: COS Colorado Sprgs CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.