Cessna 182Q accident near Alton, Utah, August 21, 2011
On August 21, 2011 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N79ES, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Alton, Utah (Strawberry Valley Estates 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
The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner, which resulted in insufficient altitude to clear obstructions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2011 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Alton, Utah · Strawberry Valley Estates · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N79ES · no longer on the register · serial 18266993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed an uneventful ground run-up and positioned the airplane at the beginning of the dirt airstrip in preparation for takeoff. High density altitude (10,700 feet) and gusting crosswind conditions existed, and the airplane was loaded about 10 percent below its maximum gross weight. The pilot began the takeoff, and the airplane attained rotation speed about the time that it reached the end of the runway. The pilot initiated rotation, and the airplane lifted off the ground but did not gain sufficient altitude to avoid striking a fence and sign post. The airplane then struck the ground and nosed over. During the postaccident examination of the airplane and engine, no mechanical failures or malfunctions were revealed that would have precluded normal operation. According to the airplane's information manual, at the reported weight and weather conditions, the airplane should have been able to take off after traveling less than 1/2 of the distance down the runway. Therefore, the pilot should have had ample time to determine that the airplane was not performing as expected and to abort the takeoff.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 306 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 207 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,799 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2011; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UT24 Alton UT at 6:55 pm
- Destination: HND Henderson NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from BCE, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.