Douglas/Basler DC-3C accident near Casper, Wyoming, April 5, 2002
On April 5, 2002 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Douglas/Basler DC-3C, registered N115Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casper, Wyoming (Natrona County Intl Arpt airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The copilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear. A contributing factor was the use of inappropriate medication by the copilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2002 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Casper, Wyoming · Natrona County Intl Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas/Basler DC-3C
- Registration
- N115Z · registry record · serial 33567
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that the airplane had taxied out for departure on runway 3. He said that he and his copilot were completing the checklist for departure when the copilot noticed high hydraulic pressure on the landing gear system. The copilot began the landing gear pressure relief procedure, but instead performed the landing gear retraction procedure. The pilot called out to the copilot to intervene, but the left main landing gear had already commenced retracting. The airplane settled onto its left wing damaging several intercostal ribs and wrinkling the left wing's skin. The copilot said that he had taken two capsules of an over the counter medication (Benadryl Allergy) on the morning of the accident. This medication, known as diphenhydramine, commonly results in drowsiness, and has measurable effects on performance of complex cognitive and motor tasks.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,134 hours in all; 461 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 1,808 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 8, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,562 hours in all; 1,409 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 1,794 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,433 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 8, 2002; 116 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 28,750 lb
- Seats: 24
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-67R (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPR Casper WY at 3:45 pm
- Destination: MSO Missoula MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 am from CPR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.
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.