Cessna 182R accident near Watkins, Colorado, August 3, 1998
On August 3, 1998 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N5099E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watkins, Colorado (Front Range Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control during taxi due to excessive taxi speed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1998 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Watkins, Colorado · Front Range Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5099E · no longer on the register · serial 18268288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was 40 miles from the intended destination when a level 6 thunderstorm was reported to be over the airport at the time of estimated arrival, and he diverted to another airport. He landed on runway 35 and exited the runway. The pilot stated that the taxiway over to the terminal appeared to be approximately 2 miles away, and in order to save time, he taxied at a speed of 25 to 30 mph. There was a rise in the taxiway, and the pilot was unable to see the right taxiway exit in enough time to slow his taxi speed in order to execute a right turn. As a result, the aircraft departed the taxiway, and came to rest in a ditch west of the taxiway, approximately 15 feet below the taxiway pavement.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,505 hours in all; 960 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,505 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,945 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1998; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470- (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OMA Omaha NE at 6:00 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 8,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DEN, 8 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.