Cessna 182R accident near Waltman, Wyoming, January 18, 2007
On January 18, 2007 at about 2:44 am local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N9937H, was destroyed in an accident near Waltman, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's continued visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and failure to maintain terrain clearance resulting in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper preflight and in-flight planning, snow and reduced visibility.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2007 · about 2:44 am local time
- Place
- Waltman, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9937H · no longer on the register · serial 18268126
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the night visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and impacted snow-covered terrain in a wings level attitude. Prior to the flight, the non-instrument rated private pilot did not obtain a weather briefing. According to data recovered from the airplane's portable global positioning system (GPS) receiver, the airplane departed the airport and initially traveled in a southwest direction toward the destination airport. Approximately 5 miles southwest of the departure airport, the airplane executed a left turn to the southeast. The airplane continued in a southeast direction for approximately 1 mile, then made a right turn back to the southwest. Shortly thereafter, the airplane then executed a 180-degree left turn to the northeast back toward the departure airport. Approximately 1 mile south of the departure airport, the airplane made a right turn to the south. The airplane continued south along a state highway for approximately 10 miles, then made a right turn toward the southwest. The airplane then headed in a southwesterly direction and the altitude varied between 6,800 and 7,300 feet mean sea level (msl). The last 15 recorded GPS positions indicated the airplane continued in a west-southwesterly direction; however, the altitude gradually decreased. The last recorded GPS position was located near the initial impact point with terrain. Local authorities reported the weather in the area at the time of the accident included snow, high winds, and reduced visibility. No communications were received from the airplane by any air traffic control facilities during the accident flight. According to a member of the pilot's family, the pilot had been "flying around Wyoming since the early 1980's." No anomalies were noted with the airframe and engine.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,950 hours in all; 2,900 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,116.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2006; 22.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-470-U-17-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCC Gillette WY at 1:19 am
- Destination: LND Lander WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from RIW, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.