Amateur-built CIRRUS VK30 accident near Rawlins, Wyoming, July 29, 1992
On July 29, 1992 at about 7:19 pm local time, a amateur-built CIRRUS VK30, registered N303VK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rawlins, Wyoming (Rawlins Municipal airport). 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 IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CROSSWINDS AND GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1992 · about 7:19 pm local time
- Place
- Rawlins, Wyoming · Rawlins Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CIRRUS VK30 CIRRUS VK3
- Registration
- N303VK · no longer on the register · serial 003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ASCERTAINING THAT THE WINDSOCK FAVORED RUNWAY 28 THE PILOT EXECUTED AN APPROACH TO THAT RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON SHORT FINAL HE 'FELT THE AIRPLANE SINK RAPIDLY, APPLIED POWER TO ATTEMPT A GO-AROUND AND FELT NO RESPONSE' AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT 'VEERED TO THE RIGHT, PITCHED UP' AND THEN CRASHED COMING TO REST ALONG THE NORTH EDGE OF THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS WEST OF THE THRESHOLD. SURFACE WINDS RECORDED AT THE AIRPORT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 240 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS. CONSISTENT WESTERLY TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS BETWEEN 16 AND 22 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS WERE REPORTED IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE AIRPORT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,469 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,469 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Greth EAGLE V8 (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 5:50 pm
- Destination: BFF Scottsbluff NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,320 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from RWL
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.