Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Heber City, Utah 84032
Sunday, October 3, 1993 12:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ENTERED A BOX CANYON WHILE GIVING A SCENIC RIDE TO RELATIVES. THE AIRCRAFT HAD INSUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE TO OUTCLIMB THE CANYON GRADIENT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE POWER, AND THEN ADVISED HIS PASSENGERS THAT THEY WERE GOING DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT BURNED AFTER CRASHING ON A STEEP SLOPE, AND STARTED A FOREST FIRE. THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS BURNS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE. ONE PASSENGER WAS TRAPPED IN THE FIRE UNTIL HIS SEAT BELT BURNED THROUGH. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT OR NEAR GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS INCLUDE THE BOX CANYON.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/3/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City HEBER CITY
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84032
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1215 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID PVU
Elevation of weather observation facility 4491
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2032
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 3 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1540
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2004 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50TH
NTSB Number SEA94FA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier 182P
Aircraft Serial Number 18264921
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 18 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 99
Airframe Hours 3867
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAKOTA RIDGE AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3300 AIRPORT ROAD, BOX S
Aircraft Owner City BOULDER
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAKOTA RIDGE AVIATION, INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3300 AIRPORT ROAD, BOX S
Operator City BOULDER
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80301
Operator Code DROV
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --