Cessna 182R accident near Dayton, Wyoming, August 20, 2007
On August 20, 2007 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N6109N, was destroyed in an accident near Dayton, Wyoming. It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering in mountainous terrain due to gusty wind conditions, and lee side turbulence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making, and his failure to follow operational procedures regarding altitudes flown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2007 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dayton, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6109N · no longer on the register · serial 18267787
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplane departed approximately 1530 for a search and rescue mission in the mountains. A witness in the area observed an airplane, matching the description of the accident airplane, flying approximately 400 to 600 feet above the ground. The burning wreckage of the accident airplane was located north of the witnesses position approximately 1800, on the east down sloping face of a vegetated canyon wall. The airplane was destroyed by fire. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. An AIRMET for moderate low-level turbulence was valid for the area. Winds in the area of the accident were recorded gusting to 25 miles per hour. Winds normal to the ridgeline of 20 knots or greater is conducive to leeside turbulence. Mission procedures state that the pilot should adjust the search altitude based upon the winds aloft - 10 knots of wind results in an addition of 1,000 feet to the search altitude and 20 knots of wind results in an addition of 2,000 feet to the search altitude. The pilot reported on his mission planning statement that his search altitude would be 1,000 feet.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,749 hours in all
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,492.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SHR Sheridan WY at 9:30 pm
- Destination: WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KSHR, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.