Cessna 182H accident near Telluride, Colorado, June 3, 1994
On June 3, 1994 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N1838X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. FACTORS WERE GUSTY WINDS AND RUNWAY DOWNSLOPE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1994 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1838X · registry record · serial 18255938
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OBTAINED TWO TERMINAL SEQUENCE REPORTS EN ROUTE THAT INDICATED THE WIND WAS CALM. ON FINAL APPROACH, SHE WAS ADVISED THE WIND WAS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS. DURING THE FLARE, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO INCREASE ALTITUDE THAT WAS EXAGGERATED BY THE RUNWAY DOWNSLOPE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO GO-AROUND, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND BECAUSE THE PROPELLER HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY GROUND CONTACT. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. THE NOSE GEAR AND FIREWALL WERE DAMAGED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 263 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1994; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 11:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 6,900 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from TEX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.