Cessna 172 accident near Lusk, WY
On December 16, 2000, a Cessna 172 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lusk, WY. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 16, 2000
- Place
- Lusk, WY
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 42.785°N, 104.217°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010110X00073
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 15, 2000, approximately 1750 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N4223F, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain approximately 11 miles east-northeast of Lusk, Wyoming. The non-instrument rated private pilot, who was the registered owner and operator, and his passenger received fatal injuries. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight departed Casper, Wyoming at 1628 and was destined for Rapid City, South Dakota. At 1624, the pilot of N4223F contacted Casper ground control requesting taxi for an east departure. The pilot was advised to taxi to runway 21; however, the pilot taxied to Alpha 6 intersection of runway 21. The ground controller advised the pilot he could have an intersection departure or turn right and taxi for a full length departure. The pilot requested an intersection departure from Alpha 6. At 1627, the local controller (tower) cleared N4223F to takeoff with a left turn to the east. At 1631, the controller asked the pilot if the aircraft was transponder equipped. The pilot replied the aircraft was equipped with a transponder. The controller instructed the pilot to squawk 1200. Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) radar data showed N4223F climbing to 8,000 feet msl. At 1705, in the area of the Iberlin Ranch Airport (WY02), Bill, Wyoming, N4223F turned southeast and descended to 5,900 feet. At 1730, approximately 10 to 12 nautical miles south of the Lusk Airport (
Probable cause
the pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing, low ceilings, snow, high winds, and dark night light conditions.
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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.
