Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent flight into a downdraft, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he departed on a local sightseeing flight. He said that about 5 miles south of the airport at 1,000 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft and began to descend. The airplane collided with the tops of several trees before the pilot could arrest the descent. The pilot was able to regain control of the airplane and returned to the departure airport without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA492 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 19, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Meeker, Colorado
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 182S
- N-number
- N314FR
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
Other records under this N-number
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.