Cessna R172K accident near Ft. Bridger, Wyoming, March 9, 1986
On March 9, 1986 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N736GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Bridger, Wyoming. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- March 9, 1986 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Ft. Bridger, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736GS · no longer on the register · serial R1722521
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE AND HIS PASSENGER WERE FERRYING AN ACFT BACK TO THE POINT OF ORIGIN AFTER A SAR MISSION FOR THE CIVIL AIR PATROL, WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED IMC WEATHER. THE PLT STATED HE WAS MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD WHEN THE ACFT TRAVELED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOSED OVER.
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: 172 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY
- Destination: EVW Evanston WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 315° at 10 knots
- Sky: overcast at 60 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.