Navion H accident near Gillette, Wyoming, June 27, 1992
On June 27, 1992 at about 1:48 pm local time, a Navion H, registered N2550T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gillette, Wyoming (Campbell County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE INDUCTION AIR DUCTING, INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROPER APPROVAL OF THE MODIFICATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1992 · about 1:48 pm local time
- Place
- Gillette, Wyoming · Campbell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion H
- Registration
- N2550T · registry record · serial NAV-4-2550
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THERE WAS AN ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR & EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE GEAR DID NOT FULLY EXTEND, AND RETRACTED AT TOUCHDOWN. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE INDUCTION AIR 'SCAT' TUBE INNER WALL HAD COLLAPSED AT A 90 DEG BEND, RESTRICTING INTAKE AIR TO THE ENGINE. THE TUBING WAS INSTALLED AS PER A ONE TIME FIELD APPROVED STC. THE ALTERNATE AIR BYPASS WAS DOWNSTREAM OF THE 'SCAT' TUBING. THE TUBING WAS OF A DOUBLE WALL DESIGN WHICH CHARACTERISTICALLY CAN DELAMINATE WHEN EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,246 hours in all; 3,808 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,649 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1992; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,315 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-13A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HLN Helena MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:48 pm from GCC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.