Cessna 182B accident near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, May 2, 1999
On May 2, 1999 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N2424G, was destroyed in an accident near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's disregard of the adverse weather forecast, and his flight into known adverse weather by flying into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the existing weather conditions that included low ceilings, obscuration, and icing conditions, and the mountainous, rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1999 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Pagosa Springs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2424G · no longer on the register · serial 51724
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and his wife departed Front Range en route to Pagosa Springs to visit family members. Prior to departure, the pilot obtained several weather briefings by accessing GTE's DUAT system, which called for AIRMETs for instrument conditions, mountain obscuration, turbulence and icing. The forecast was for widely scattered rain showers with low ceilings and visibility. After contacting Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) and requesting that his flight plan be activated, the briefer asked the pilot if he had received the forecasted AIRMETs. The pilot acknowledged that he had. The pilot's brother, who lived in the accident area, observed the deteriorating weather. He called the departure airport to advise the pilot to delay the flight, and was told that they had already departed. The aircraft became the subject of an ALNOT when it failed to arrive at its destination. On the evening of May 4, the airplane was located along the east side of Pagosa Peak at the 11,000 foot level. Satellite data indicated that extensive cloud cover was present in the area, and several witnesses driving through the pass near the time of the accident were unable to view the peaks of the pass due to obscuration.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,520 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,391 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,126 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1999; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTG Watkins CO at 6:12 pm
- Destination: 2V1 CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from ALS, 48 miles away
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.