Cessna 180 accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, September 2, 1993
On September 2, 1993 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3120C, was destroyed in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER ENCOUNTERING ADVERSE WEATHER. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1993 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3120C · registry record · serial 30919
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE CESSNA 180 EXPERIENCED AN IN FLIGHT BREAK-UP. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER ROLLING TERRAIN FOR ABOUT ONE MILE. OUTBOARD PIECES OF THE LEFT WING WERE THE FIRST BITS OF WRECKAGE THAT WERE FOUND ALONG THE PATH. ALSO, THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE RIGHT WING HAD FAILED. AFTER IMPACT, THE FUSELAGE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE PILOT OF A CESSNA 195 (IN THE SAME FLIGHT) REPORTED THAT AS THEY WERE CLIMBING TO REMAIN ABOVE CLOUDS, HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT. HE SAID THE CESSNA 195 THEN ENTERED THE CLOUDS, AS WELL AS MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE AND UP/DOWNDRAFTS, WHICH RESULTED IN EXCEEDING THE UP AND DOWN LIMITS OF THE VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR. HE SAID HE RECOVERED BELOW THE CLOUDS AND LOST CONTACT WITH THE CESSNA 180. AFTER LANDING AT THE DESTINATION, THE CESSNA 195 PILOT LEARNED THAT THE CESSNA 180 HAD CRASHED IN THAT SAME AREA.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AKO Akron CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: RIW Riverton WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from CYS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.