History of Flight
On January 29, 2011, at approximately 2030 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182K (registration N3083Q) impacted hilly terrain approximately two miles south of Adrian, Oregon. The private pilot and his two passengers were killed, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight, conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, was a personal cross-country trip that had departed Ontario, Oregon, about 15 minutes prior to the accident. Patchy ground fog and an occasional 2,300-foot overcast had been reported in the area. No flight plan was filed, and a search began the next morning after a family member reported the airplane missing.
According to family members, the pilot and his two relatives departed Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho, on the afternoon of January 28, en route to Portland, Oregon, for a memorial service and funeral. After landing at Madras City-County Airport, Oregon, around 1945 Pacific Standard Time, the pilot informed the airport manager that he had attempted to reach Portland but was unable due to weather. He refueled and planned another attempt. The manager convinced him to drive the manager's car to Portland instead. The pilot and passengers arrived in Portland in time for the funeral but not the memorial service.
The next day, they drove back to Madras, arriving around 1700 PST. The pilot added 10 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. As it was getting dark, he departed for Nampa. The manager noted a weather system with lowering ceilings moving in.
The pilot did not contact FAA facilities en route. The next known location was Ontario Airport, Oregon, where he refueled with 10 gallons at 1957 MST. A passenger sent a text message indicating they were refueling and would be back in Nampa in about 20 minutes. When the pilot did not arrive, family members reported the airplane missing.
Search efforts involved cell phone pings and an emergency locator transmitter signal. The wreckage was located at 1152 on January 30, on the east side of a steep hillside at 43° 40.425' N, 117° 07.366' W.
Personnel Information
The 38-year-old male pilot held a private pilot certificate issued October 12, 2010, about three and a half months before the accident. His third-class medical certificate was issued June 25, 2009, without waivers or limitations. As of October 16, 2010, he had logged 133 total hours, 3.6 at night, and 1.8 in a Cessna 182. Estimated total pilot-in-command time in the Cessna 182 at the time of the accident was about 17.5 hours.
Aircraft Information
The 1967 Cessna 182K (serial number 18258083) had its last annual inspection on October 21, 2010, with a tachometer reading of 664.8 hours and total airframe time of 5,849 hours. At the accident, tachometer read 679.5 hours, total airframe time 5,863.7 hours. The aircraft was registered to a friend but operated and maintained by the pilot under an agreement for sole use and non-owner insurance.
Meteorological Information
At 2053 MST, Ontario, Oregon (about 25 miles north of the accident site) reported calm winds, 8 miles visibility, overcast ceiling at 2,300 feet, temperature 1°C, dew point -1°C, altimeter 30.01 inHg. Caldwell, Idaho (about 20 miles east) reported calm winds, 8 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 1°C, dew point -5°C, altimeter 30.00 inHg. Boise, Idaho (about 43 miles east) reported calm winds, 5 miles visibility, mist, few clouds at 12,000 feet, temperature 1°C, dew point -1°C, altimeter 29.97 inHg.
Localized weather conditions near the Snake River were variable with solid cloud cover, clear skies, and patchy ground fog and mist. Astronomical data indicated a dark night: sunset was at 1822, and the moon (11% illuminated) was not above the horizon until 0543 the next morning.
The pilot did not contact Lockheed Martin Flight Services or use DUATS for pre-flight weather briefings.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane struck steep terrain at the 3,000-foot level of a 35-degree east-facing slope. The initial crater was about eight feet long, four feet wide, and two feet deep, aligned on a heading of about 270 degrees magnetic. Smaller gouges from the main landing gear were present. A scar line consistent with wing impact extended about 15 feet outboard. The airplane came to rest upside-down about 45 feet upslope. Both wings and fuselage were inverted. Flaps were up, aileron cables continuous to the cabin. The engine, firewall, and instrument panel were crushed aft. The nose gear strut was folded aft. The empennage was mostly undamaged. Elevator and rudder continuity were established. The elevator trim tab was found three-eighths of an inch up (nose down) relative to the elevator. The throttle was about one inch out, propeller knob half-inch out, mixture full rich, carburetor heat off. The tachometer indicated 2,350 rpm and 679.5 hours.
The engine had torn from mounts but remained attached. Both magnetos had separated; the left magneto was found 20 feet upslope and could not generate spark. The right magneto generated spark at three leads. No internal anomalies were found. The carburetor was undamaged, with light blue fuel in the bowl and gascolator, uncontaminated and no water. Spark plugs showed normal wear. Boroscope inspection of cylinders showed no damage except oil residue in cylinders 5 and 6. The propeller hub separated; blades were found with chord-wise scratches and leading edge damage, reduced pitch twist.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy determined the pilot's cause of death as massive blunt force trauma secondary to the airplane crash. Toxicological examination was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and tested drugs.
Additional Information
The FAA provided a radar ground track overlay on a satellite photo. The first radar hit was at 2021 MST, about 8.5 miles south of Ontario Airport, heading southerly (about 200 degrees). After about 12 miles, the track turned left about ten degrees and continued along the eastern edge of hilly terrain. The last radar hit was at 2030 MST at approximately 43° 41.836' N, 117° 05.647' W. From that point to the initial impact crater was about 2.2 miles on a track of 220 degrees.