Cessna 182F accident near Monte Vista, Colorado, September 23, 1994
On September 23, 1994 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N3540U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monte Vista, Colorado (Monte Vista Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL. FACTORS WERE THE CROSS WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S POOR EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1994 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monte Vista, Colorado · Monte Vista Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3540U · no longer on the register · serial 84593-3-R-4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED OBSERVING A 'LIMP' WIND SOCK PRIOR TO LANDING. HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'A LITTLE HIGH,' TOO FAST, AND ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR. WIND 11 MILES AWAY WAS FROM 350 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. PILOT REPORTED WIND WAS VARIABLE AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS. THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE WAS A PASSENGER. HE REPORTED A 15 KNOT TAIL WIND. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED IN SOFT TERRAIN RESULTING IN A NOSE 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,390 hours in all; 1,139 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1994; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from ALS, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3540U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.