Cessna A185F accident near Gillette, Wyoming, April 10, 1987
On April 10, 1987 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N6670N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gillette, Wyoming (Gillette Campbell County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 10, 1987 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Gillette, Wyoming · Gillette Campbell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6670N · no longer on the register · serial 18504313
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTS THAT JUST AFTER THE TAIL WAS RAISED ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HIS SEAT SLID FULL AFT ON THE RAILS. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUDDER PEDALS AND THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE LT, GROUND LOOPED, AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT WAS NOT INJURED BUT THE PASSENGER RECEIVED A MINOR CUT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE 'PILOT SEAT RAIL FAILED TO LOCK.' EXAMINATION OF THE SEAT RAIL AND LOCKING MECHANISM AFTER THE ACDT DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE SYSTEM.
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: 1,635 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1986; 130 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 6S5 Hamilton MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 19 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from GCC
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.