Cessna 182Q N735DP

Summary

On 4 May 2007 at about 14:58 local time, a Cessna 182Q registered N735DP, operated by Steven R. Garner & Donald W. Gillis, was involved in an accident near Asheville, North Carolina, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 May 2007 at 14:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Asheville, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.4703, -82.5936

Aircraft

Cessna 182Q

Registration

N735DP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Steven R. Garner & Donald W. Gillis

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dublin → Asheville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

NTSB number

ATL07FA083

3 people died.

The failure of the directional gyro and attitude indicator due to a vacuum system leak caused by a loose fitting. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to execute a partial panel, no-gyro approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While executing an approach in mountainous terrain, the instrument-rated private pilot requested help due to a malfunctioning directional gyro. The controller initiated giving the pilot vectors for a no-gyro approach to the airport, which included a climb. Shortly thereafter, the pilot advised the controller that the attitude indicator had failed. The controller continued to provide guidance to the pilot until radar contact was lost less than 2 minutes later. The airplane impacted a mountain about 2,300 feet below the last assigned altitude. Evidence at the scene indicated that the airplane had entered an uncontrolled descent prior to impact. Examination of the vacuum system revealed that the vacuum inlet line "B-Nut" fitting to the attitude indicator was loose and that contamination had entered the instrument. This indicated there was a leak in the vacuum system, and insufficient vacuum for the associated instruments.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.