History of Flight
On March 17, 2015, about 1240 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182Q single-engine airplane, registration N735KF, was destroyed after impacting mountainous terrain while maneuvering near El Paso, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated by Brentco Aerial Patrols, Inc, of Canton, Ohio, on a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan for a Part 91 aerial observation flight.
According to company representatives, the airplane departed Snyder, Texas, at approximately 0755 to conduct a pipeline patrol flight destined for El Paso International Airport (ELP). At 1056, the company dispatcher received a call from the pilot requesting weather information for southeast New Mexico and El Paso. The dispatcher reported that El Paso had light rain. The pilot indicated he would depart, stating, "if he was going to make it, he had better get into the air." The airplane had also departed from a private airstrip near Hobbs, New Mexico, at an unknown time.
Radar data showed the airplane about 30 miles northeast of ELP at 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) traveling southwest. About 25 miles northeast of ELP at 5,850 feet msl, it made a left turn south, then a right turn north. After about 2 miles north, it turned left at 6,150 feet msl toward the west, and radar contact was lost. After the airplane failed to arrive at ELP, a search ensued. The wreckage was located by local authorities on March 18, 2015, at about 0900, in mountainous terrain near the last radar contact.
Personnel Information
The pilot, aged 70, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument ratings. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on February 4, 2015, with a limitation requiring glasses for near vision. According to the company, he had accumulated 13,274 total flight hours, including 4,800 hours in the accident make and model. He successfully completed a company flight review on November 7, 2014.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a 1977 Cessna 182Q, serial number 18265479, powered by a Continental O-470-U reciprocating engine and a McCauley controllable pitch propeller. It received a standard airworthiness certificate on March 10, 1977. Its most recent annual inspection was on December 2, 2014, at a total airframe time of 15,742 hours and engine time of 837 hours since major overhaul.
Meteorological Information
The pilot did not receive an official weather briefing. He had a conversation about weather with the company dispatcher.
The closest official weather station to the accident site was McGregor Range Base Camp (M63), 11 miles west-northwest, elevation 4,209 feet. At 1230, M63 reported wind from 010° at 15 knots gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, few clouds at 1,300 feet agl, scattered at 2,000 feet, broken ceiling at 2,900 feet, temperature 13°C, dew point 11°C. At 1256, visibility increased to 10 miles, wind 010° at 10 knots, broken ceiling at 2,400 feet.
ELP, about 22 miles west-southwest, elevation 3,962 feet, reported at 1151: wind 140° at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, light rain, few clouds at 2,700 feet, broken ceiling at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet. At 1251: wind 090° at 12 knots, visibility 7 miles, light rain, few clouds at 2,700 feet, broken at 3,000 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet.
The observations indicated ceilings likely between 6,000 and 8,000 feet msl with light rain and a gusty north to east surface wind, consistent with a cold front moving south. ELP observations noted clouds obscuring mountains to the west and northwest. It was likely that terrain near the accident site was obscured by clouds and precipitation.
AIRMETs Sierra and Zulu, issued at 0845 and updated at 1215, forecast mountains obscured by clouds and precipitation, ceilings below 1,000 feet agl with visibility below 3 miles, and moderate icing conditions.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located in rocky, mountainous terrain at about 6,195 feet msl. The airplane was fragmented with debris scattered over about 300 feet. The main wreckage consisted of the empennage, aft fuselage, left wing, and engine. A postaccident fire consumed most of the fuselage, wings, and empennage. Cut limbs on trees indicated impact in a slightly left wing low attitude.
The left wing was separated and destroyed by thermal and impact damage. The right wing was fragmented and embedded in rocks. The forward fuselage was fragmented with thermal damage. The cockpit and instrument panel were destroyed; the tachometer read 0711.0 hours and the RPM needle was captured at 2,400 RPM. The cabin doors were separated and locked. One seat frame showed thermal damage. The landing gear assemblies were separated.
The empennage remained attached, with horizontal stabilizers crushed and thermally damaged. Elevators, vertical stabilizer, and rudder remained attached. Flight control continuity was partially established; several components were destroyed. Flap position could not be determined.
The engine came to rest near the main wreckage. Cylinders 1, 3, and 5 were separated; cylinder 6 head separated; crankcase fragmented. Magnetos and carburetor were separated. The propeller separated at the flange; hub fragmented; both blades separated. One blade was bent, twisted, with missing tip; the other blade had gouges.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Medical Examiner of El Paso listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries from the accident. Toxicological testing by the FAA was negative for all screened drugs and alcohol.