Amateur-built 2000RG accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 30, 2022
On May 30, 2022 at about 1:48 pm local time, a 2008 amateur-built 2000RG, registered N44508, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while managing a loss of engine power and inflight fire, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing factors to the accident were the loss of engine power and the in-flight fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2022 · about 1:48 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 2000RG, built 2008
- Registration
- N44508 · registry record · serial 0101RG
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the pilot informed air traffic control that he had an engine failure, and the airplane entered a left turn back toward the airport. The pilot then told the controller that he was not going to be able to make it back to the airport and he was going to land in a field. The pilot then reported that he had a fire onboard the airplane. The airplane impacted the ground in a storage yard and slid into a storage unit. The airplane was destroyed by impact and fire damage. A performance study revealed that, while in the turn to the field, the airplane banked right about 75° with an increase in pitch from 0° to about 11° nose up at an altitude of about 400 ft above the ground. The airplane exceeded the critical angle of attack, entered an accelerated stall, and departed controlled flight. It is likely that due to the inflight fire and the loss of engine power, the pilot was unable to maintain control of the airplane during the last portion of the flight. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded operations; however, the examination was limited due to impact and fire damage. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. Due to the postimpact fire, the source of ignition for the inflight fire 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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during approach
- Loss of control in flight during approach defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 12,267 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 756.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 16, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CYS Cheynne WY at 1:44 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.59 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 am from KFEW, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFEW 301358Z AUTO 30015G22KT 10SM FEW120 10/M00 A2959 RMK AO2 SLP970 T00981004 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on December 14, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Airplane Performance | PDF, 11 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Powerplants Group Chairman's Factual Report | PDF, 21 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | ADS-B Plots on Google Earth | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | ADS-B Data | data file · our copy | Download |
| 8 | Cheyenne Air Traffic Control Tower Radio Transcript | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Record of Conversation Mcatee | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Logs | PDF, 16 pages · our copy | View Download |
Other NTSB records under N44508 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.