Cessna 182P N21390

Summary

On 30 November 2000 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna 182P registered N21390 was involved in an accident near Taos, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 November 2000 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Taos, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

36.3806, -105.5707

Aircraft

Cessna 182P

Registration

N21390

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Monte Vista

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN01FA018

2 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering in a narrow canyon. Contributing factors were the down slope winds in excess of 50 knots and the pilot's improper decision to enter the canyon given the wind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before the VFR cross country flight departed, the pilot told a business associate that he would be deviating from a direct route to conduct some sightseeing. The airplane was observed to fly up a narrow canyon in the vicinity of a ski area, and witnesses last saw the airplane in a steep left turn towards the entrance to the canyon. The wreckage was later spotted against the canyon wall by telescope from the ski area. A state police helicopter that attempted to reach the scene was unable to enter the canyon due to down slope winds in excess of 50 knots. The accident site was on a 35-degree south facing slope at 11,300 feet msl on a 12,163-foot mountain. During examination of the airplane wreckage, no pre-impact engine or airframe anomalies that might have affected the airplane's performance were identified.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.