Martin Company 404 accident near Buffalo, Wyoming, June 27, 1986
On June 27, 1986 at about 11:45 am local time, a Martin Company 404, registered N40443, was destroyed in an accident near Buffalo, Wyoming (Johnson County airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 3 people were killed. 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 27, 1986 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Buffalo, Wyoming · Johnson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Martin Company 404
- Registration
- N40443 · no longer on the register · serial 14228
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N40443 WAS CONTRACTED BY THE WYOMING DEPT OF AG TO SPRAY GRASSHOPPERS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HELD A PVT CERTIFICATE WITH ASMEL RATINGS. HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HE FAILED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION CONCERNING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND ALCOHOLISM. CO-PLT HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE WITH ASEL RATING. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE THAT EITHER PLT HAD ANY OPERATING EXPERIENCE IN THE MARTIN 404 ACFT. FORMER EMPLOYEES OF OPERATOR STATED THAT N40443 WAS NOT WELL MAINTAINED. THE ADI SYSTEM AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOP. WEIGHT OF ACFT AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 44,492 POUNDS. THE MAX GROSS TOTAL WEIGHT FOR A 'DRY' TAKEOFF FROM A 4,500 FOOT RWY WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,900 POUNDS. THE FLT MANUAL PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE THAT A RWY LENGTH OF OVER 5,500 FEET WOULD BE NEEDED FOR AN ACFT AT 44,492 POUNDS. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK DURING 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R2800-CBC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.