Cessna 172P accident near Alva, Wyoming, May 21, 1991
On May 21, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N172GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alva, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S ABILITY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ENGINE FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Alva, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N172GA · registry record · serial 17275416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 172 STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING SIMULATED FORCED LANDINGS WHEN HE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. HE SAID THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO RECOVER POWER WHEN HE OPENED THE THROTTLE. HE SAID THAT HE DECIDED TO LAND IN A PASTURE INSTEAD OF ON A ROAD. THE ENGINE RAN AND ACCELERATED NORMALLY WHEN IT WAS TESTED BY FAA INSPECTORS.
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: 63 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gillette Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: GGC Gillette WY at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N172GA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N172GA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,680 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J 96 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Wyoming 778 since 1982 · 109 in the last ten years
- Wyoming 3,236 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N172GA 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA91LA112.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.