Cessna 180 accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, June 6, 1986
On June 6, 1986 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3253D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming (Cheyenne airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 6, 1986 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · Cheyenne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3253D · no longer on the register · serial 32051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT FLEW FROM ALLIANCE TO CHEYENNE ON HIS SOLO X-COUNTRY AND FLEW LOCALLY AT CHEYENNE TO MAKE 3 LANDINGS AT A TWR CONTROLLED ARPT. WHILE HE WAS IN THE PATTERN A CUMULONIMBUS CLOUD MOVED INTO THE VICINITY OF THE ARPT AND THE WINDS BECAME GUSTY. AFTER HIS FINAL LANDING ON RWY 30, THE PLT TURNED OFF TO THE LEFT AND A STRONG GUST PICKED UP THE RIGHT WING AND TAIL. THE LEFT WING AND PROP CONTACTED THE GROUND. THREE MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE TWR REPORTED THE WINDS FROM 300 DEGREES AT 34 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 38 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,545 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 1986; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,691 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 34 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:33 pm from CYS
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.