Hispano Aviacion ME109 accident near Casper, Wyoming, May 28, 1986
On May 28, 1986 at about 2:51 pm local time, a Hispano Aviacion ME109, registered N3109, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casper, Wyoming (Natrona County Inter'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 28, 1986 · about 2:51 pm local time
- Place
- Casper, Wyoming · Natrona County Inter'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hispano Aviacion ME109
- Registration
- N3109 · no longer on the register · serial 8-109-116-40
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON A TEST FLT, THE ACFT LEFT BRAKE FAILED CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THE PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT GROUND LOOPED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 75 in the last 90 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce MERLIN 500-29 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 10,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CPR
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.