Cessna 172 accident near Mckinnon, Wyoming, June 26, 1992
On June 26, 1992 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6089A, was destroyed in an accident near Mckinnon, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WHICH WAS NOT PURGED AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TREES, A FENCE AND THE UNEVEN TERRAIN CONDITION DURING THE LANDING AND ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1992 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinnon, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6089A · registry record · serial 28689
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE RPM BEGAN DROPPING/FLUCTUATING AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REACH A NEARBY HIGHWAY TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING HE COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF SEVERAL SMALL TREES AND WHILE ROLLING OUT OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN THE AIRCRAFT PASSED THROUGH A FENCE AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR STRUT SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE FUEL DRAINED FROM THE GASCOLATOR AS WELL AS WATER IN THE PILOT'S ABOVE GROUND AUTO GAS STORAGE TANK. STANDARD CESSNA 172 PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES CALL FOR THE DRAINING OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL STRAINER TO CHECK FOR PRESENCE OF WATER AND SEDIMENT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 40U Manila UT at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 40U
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from RKS, 44 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.