Cessna 182E accident near Rozet, Wyoming, July 22, 2015
On July 22, 2015 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1962 Cessna 182E, registered N3344Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Rozet, Wyoming (Kissack/Reynolds Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because an examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2015 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rozet, Wyoming · Kissack/Reynolds Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E, built 1962 · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- N3344Y · no longer on the register · serial 18254344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before departure, he conducted a normal preflight and that the airplane had 52 gallons of fuel on board. Shortly after takeoff and reaching 1,000 ft above ground level, the pilot started to turn the airplane, and the engine then lost power. The pilot continued the turn toward the airport and conducted a forced landing. The airplane landed about halfway down the runway, continued off the runway end, and impacted a ditch. A visual examination of the engine did not reveal any abnormalities. During an engine test run conducted at low-power settings, no abnormalities were noted. Due to damage to the propeller, a high/full power test run could not be conducted. A review of the accident flight data recorded by the engine data monitor revealed that the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and cylinder head temperature (CHT) on all six cylinders initially appeared consistent with normal operation. However, shortly after takeoff, the EGT and CHT on all six cylinders sharply decreased, consistent with a loss of, or a reduction in, engine power. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor ice at glide power settings; however, the airplane was operating at a higher power setting at the time of the power loss. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 733 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 691 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 27, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,956.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 22WY Rozet WY at 1:55 pm
- Destination: 22WY Rozet WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,200 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KGCC, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3344Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.