Accident Overview
On May 22, 2024, at about 1030 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182C, registration N8580T, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing near Vernal, Utah. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and two passengers were not injured.
Flight Details
The pilot reported that while on a 5-mile final approach to runway 17 at Vernal Regional Airport (VEL), he performed a brief slip to lose altitude. When the airplane was approximately 3 miles from the runway, the pilot reduced engine power and extended the flaps to 40°. Shortly thereafter, the engine stumbled and lost total power. Despite attempts, the pilot was unable to restart the engine and initiated a landing to an open field.
Incident and Response
During the off-airport landing, the airplane landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.