Cessna 182 N6314B accident near Glades Park, Colorado

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and climb rate during takeoff in high-density altitude conditions, which resulted in his failure to clear power lines.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, before departing from a high-altitude (6,830 ft mean sea level), 1,600-ft-long private, dirt airstrip, he set the flaps to 10° and trimmed the airplane. He added that, during takeoff, he advanced the throttle and that the airplane "accelerated well" and that he anticipated that the airplane would become airborne near the first of the runway's "two step downs," which was about 1,000 ft down the runway. He further reported that, although the wind was light and variable, he would be departing with a tailwind.

At the first stepdown, he saw that the airspeed was low but he believed that he had gone beyond a "safe shut down point," so he chose to continue the takeoff believing that he would be able to clear the power lines near the departure end of the runway. The airplane became airborne near the departure end of the runway but was unable to maintain a sufficient climb rate to clear the power lines. The airplane struck two sets of power lines and impacted an embankment, and the main landing gear collapsed.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The calculated density altitude was 8,985 ft.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA257 for the full record.