Mooney M-2O accident near Rock Spring, Wyoming, September 4, 1983
On September 4, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Mooney M-2O, registered N5297B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Spring, Wyoming (Rock Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 4, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Spring, Wyoming · Rock Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-2O
- Registration
- N5297B · registry record · serial 1159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED WITH THE LANDING GEAR UP AFTER THE FLT EXPERIENCED SOME DELAYS IN LANDING BECAUSE AN AIRSHOW WAS IN PROGRESS. THE ACCIDENT PLT WAS TOLD TO HOLD 30 MINUTES AND THEN 6 MINUTES LATER WAS TOLD HE COULD LAND IF HE HURRIED AND'GOT BACK TO THE ARPT QUICKLY.' THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH. THE REQUESTS FOR POSITION REPORTS CAME ABOUT EVERY MINUTE ACCORDING TO THE PLT. HE SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE RADIO HE DID NOT GO THROUGH THE CHECKLIST AND FORGOT TO LOWER THE GEAR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,961 hours in all; 2,961 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 2,961 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-32O (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAP Rapid City SD at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from 2KS
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.