An amateur-built aircraft accident near Rawlins, Wyoming, August 12, 1982
On August 12, 1982 at about 2:00 pm local time, a an amateur-built aircraft, registered N88Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rawlins, Wyoming (Rawlins Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1982 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rawlins, Wyoming · Rawlins Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- An amateur-built aircraft
- Registration
- N88Q · no longer on the register · serial ONE
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT SINCE HE COULDN'T GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLIMB OVER SURROUNDING TERRAIN. HE STATED HE ALSO HAD TROUBLE HOLDING ALTITUDE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. DURING THE LANDING THE LEFT WHEEL STRUCK THE GROUND & THE MOMENTUM OF IMPACT PUT THE ACFT INTO A RIGHT HAND SNAP ROLL. THE ACFT CRASHED INVERTED ADJACENT TO THE RWY. THE ACFT'S ENG IS RATED AT 18 HP AT SEA LEVEL. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000 FT.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,200 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 28,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 800 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Onan B48MGAO (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RWL Rawlins WY at 7:20 am
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 151°F (66°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.