Cessna 182 accident near Black Hawk, Colorado, May 8, 2008
On May 8, 2008 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N8553S, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Black Hawk, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to induction icing. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to continue flight in conditions favorable for structural and induction-system icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2008 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Black Hawk, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 H · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N8553S · no longer on the register · serial 18256653
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane entered clouds and snow showers while en route on an instrument flight plan. Temperatures compounded with relative humidity, placed the airplane in conditions favorable for structural and induction system icing. During the flight, the engine lost partial power and the pilot could not maintain level flight. During the descent, the engine was observed to lose and regain power. The pilot continued to manuever the airplane until it collided with terrain. An examination of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any anomalies which would have precluded the safe operation of the airframe or production of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Structural icing during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to structural icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 443 hours in all; 278 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 372 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 19, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,652.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 2007; 67.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Winkmaggair, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: GWS Glenwood Spring CO at 9:08 pm
- Destination: BDU Boulder CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway NA
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from BJC, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.