Cessna 182 accident near Glades Park, Colorado, May 11, 2019
On May 11, 2019 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1957 Cessna 182, registered N6314B, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Glades Park, Colorado (Reese Private Strip 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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed and climb rate during takeoff in high-density altitude conditions, which resulted in his failure to clear power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2019 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Glades Park, Colorado · Reese Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 A, built 1957 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N6314B · registry record · serial 34214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before departing from a high-altitude (6,830 ft mean sea level), 1,600-ft-long private, dirt airstrip, he set the flaps to 10° and trimmed the airplane. He added that, during takeoff, he advanced the throttle and that the airplane "accelerated well" and that he anticipated that the airplane would become airborne near the first of the runway's "two step downs," which was about 1,000 ft down the runway. He further reported that, although the wind was light and variable, he would be departing with a tailwind. At the first stepdown, he saw that the airspeed was low but he believed that he had gone beyond a "safe shut down point," so he chose to continue the takeoff believing that he would be able to clear the power lines near the departure end of the runway. The airplane became airborne near the departure end of the runway but was unable to maintain a sufficient climb rate to clear the power lines. The airplane struck two sets of power lines and impacted an embankment, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The calculated density altitude was 8,985 ft.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during initial climb defining event
- Landing gear collapse during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 11,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,418.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-520-UTS (piston); 2,382 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Pvt Glades Park CO
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway E, 1,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KGJT, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 5, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.