Cessna 182Q accident near Eads, Colorado, December 1, 1995
On December 1, 1995 at about 5:50 am local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N735JN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eads, Colorado. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CONNECTING ROD BOLTS AND SEPARATION OF THE CYLINDER FROM THE CRANKCASE. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND REDUCED LIGHT CONDITIONS (DARK NIGHT).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 1995 · about 5:50 am local time
- Place
- Eads, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N735JN · registry record · serial 18265462
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN NIGHT CRUISE VFR FLIGHT, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING. ENGINE DISASSEMBLY DISCLOSED THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKCASE AND THE PISTON WAS FRACTURED IN TWO PIECES. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF CYLINDER ROCKING AND FRETTING. ONE THROUGH-BOLT PENETRATED THE COWLING, FOUR STUDS WERE BENT AND TWO STUDS WERE MISSING. ONE OF THE CONNECTING ROD BOLTS WAS STRIPPED AND THE OTHER HAD FAILED IN TENSION. THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER WAS SCORED AND THE PISTON WAS ERODED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF HIGH HEAT DISTRESS. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED IN JANUARY 1992, AND RECEIVED A PROPELLER STRIKE INSPECTION 7 MONTHS LATER. ENGINE TOTAL TIME WAS 3,301 HOURS, AND TIME SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL WAS 1,498 HOURS.
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: 168 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,076 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 10, 1995; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aspen Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 5:10 am
- Destination: LAA Lamar CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from LAA, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N735JN 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.