VFR into IMC · NTSB DEN08FA141
CESSNA 182T — Georgia Pass, CO
| Date | August 15, 2008 |
| Location | Georgia Pass, CO |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 182T |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Prior to flight Preflight or dispatch event |
| Pilot age | 42 |
| Pilot total time | 1,576 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 4 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weather planning-Pilot - F
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Response/compensation - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Convective weather-(general)-Not specified - F
What happened
The instrument-rated pilot was traveling cross-country with three passengers after a family vacation. The airplane was instrument-flight-rules equipped and the pilot was familiar with the airplane. There was no evidence the pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to departure and he did not file a flight plan. An analysis conducted by an NTSB meteorology specialist determined that, at the time of departure, weather was marginal visual meteorological conditions with an overcast layer above and scattered clouds at and below the flown flight level. Weather near the accident site deteriorated rapidly after departure and the pilot likely encountered a level 2 thunderstorm, lost control of the airplane and impacted terrain, destroying the airplane. Postaccident inspection of the airplane did not disclose evidence of any preimpact anomaly of the engine or airplane systems.