American AA-1 YANKEE accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, June 4, 1986
On June 4, 1986 at about 1:51 pm local time, a American AA-1 YANKEE, registered N5935L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming (Cheyenne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 4, 1986 · about 1:51 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · Cheyenne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA-1 YANKEE AA-1 YANKE · all AA-1 YANKEEs on the register
- Registration
- N5935L · no longer on the register · serial AA1-0235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ON A 4,997 FOOT LONG RWY, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE, SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RWY AND LIFTED OFF AGAIN JUST PRIOR TO REACHING THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN FLT. THE ACFT IMPACTED ON A STREET, TRAVELED 30 FEET, STRUCK A WOODEN FENCE AND CAME TO REST AGAINST A TREE ON THE FRONT LAWN OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. MOST OF THE PLT'S FLT EXPERIENCE WAS IN AREAS WITH ELEVATIONS NEAR SEA LEVEL. HE STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE THE MIXTURE SHOULD BE LEANED DURING TAKEOFF FROM HIGH ALT ARPTS AS THE ACFT OWNER MANUAL SUGGESTS. CHEYENNE ARPT ELEVATION IS 6,150 FT MSL. THE ACFT WAS ALSO DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN 35 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF.
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: 123 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1986; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYS Cheyenne WY at 1:50 pm
- Destination: 3V3 Flagler CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,997 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from CYS, 1 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.