Cessna 182J accident near Torrington, Wyoming, August 19, 1985
On August 19, 1985 at about 3:15 am local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N3336F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Torrington, Wyoming (Torrington 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 19, 1985 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Torrington, Wyoming · Torrington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3336F · no longer on the register · serial 18257336
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD A LIMITATION ON HER CERTIFICATE THAT PROHIBITED FLIGHT AT NIGHT. THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED AT NIGHT AND WHILE ENROUTE THE PLT DIVERTED TO THE TORRINGTON ARPT. THE RWY IS EQUIPPED WITH PLT ACTIVATED LGTS. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ACFT CIRCLED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE LND LGT ON AS IF TO LAND. THE ACFT CRASHED SHORT OF RWY 28. THE TERRAIN EAST OF THE RWY IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER. THE RWY LIGHTS HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED.
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: 150 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,965 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1985; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ECS New Castle WY
- Destination: LAR Laramie WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 5,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:30 pm
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.