Cessna 172K accident near Laramie, WY
On August 26, 1994, a Cessna 172K (airplane) was involved in an accident near Laramie, WY. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 26, 1994
- Place
- Laramie, WY
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.311°N, 105.579°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X02134
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 26, 1994, approximately 1710 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N79444, was destroyed by impact damage and post- crash fire while maneuvering below ridgeline in a canyon southwest of Laramie, Wyoming. The private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from a private airstrip near Erie, Colorado, at about 1500, and was reported to be en route to Rock Springs, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The ELT was consumed by post-crash fire. The aircraft impacted the terrain in a steep mountainous area on the eastern face of the Medicine Bow mountain range, about 500 feet below ridgeline. Post-crash fire consumed about ten acres of forest. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot's log books and flight records were not recovered or located. No record of a biannual flight review was located. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The aircraft log books were not recovered or located. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Winds at the nearest reporting station were 230 degrees at 15 knots, approximately perpendicular to the ridgeline. The wreckage was located on the lee side of the ridgeline. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION A watch, which had stopped at 5:10, was found in the wreckage. The aircraft data plate was found in the burned wreckage. The aircraft was found near the bottom of a bowl, about 500 feet below a Hells Canyon ridgeline on the eastern face of the Medicine Bow mountain range south of Centennial. A ten acre forest fire was associated with the crash. The wreckage distr
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN. DOWNDRAFT WIND ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE RIDGELINE WAS A FACTOR.
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Browse: Wyoming · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
