Cessna 182K accident near Heeney, Colorado, September 28, 1994
On September 28, 1994 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182K, registered N2504Q, was destroyed in an accident near Heeney, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE RISING TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1994 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Heeney, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182K · all 182Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2504Q · no longer on the register · serial 18257704
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED BOULDER AIRPORT (1V5), BOULDER, COLORADO, AT 0730 ON A FLIGHT TO PHOTOGRAPH THE AUTUMN ASPEN TREES. AT 1400, A MOUNTAIN BIKER ON THE COLORADO TRAIL NEAR LAKE MAHAN SAW THE WRECKAGE OF THE AIRPLANE, AND REPORTED IT TO A COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE OFFICER. THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT PATH PRIOR TO TERRAIN IMPACT WAS ALONG RISING TERRAIN. THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,400 FEET. BASED ON DATA PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER, IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT AT THE ALTITUDE DESCRIBED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN THE DESIGNED PERFORMANCE LIMIT. A BRANCH FROM THE TOP OF A 60 TO 75 FOOT TREE WAS FOUND DOWNHILL, 375 FEET FROM THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE. TWO OTHER BRANCHES FROM THE TOPS OF TREES WERE FOUND IN LINE AND BETWEEN THE FIRST PIECE AND THE WRECKAGE. A LARGE TREE, 20 INCHES IN DIAMETER, LOCATED 68 FEET FROM THE WRECKAGE WAS SHEARED 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,099 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1994; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flatirons Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 1V5 Boulder CO
- Destination: 1V5 CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from ASE, 50 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.