Cessna 150K accident near Moran Junction, Wyoming, December 22, 1992
On December 22, 1992 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6072G, was destroyed in an accident near Moran Junction, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS SUBSEQUENT INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ICING CONDITIONS AND TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1992 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moran Junction, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6072G · no longer on the register · serial 15071572
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTING THE SANTA MONICA AREA OF CALIFORNIA EN ROUTE TO BILLINGS, MONTANA, TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH HIS SISTER, THE PILOT STOPPED IN OGDEN, UTAH, AND RECEIVED A VFR NOT RECOMMENDED WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE OGDEN TO JACKSON, WYOMING, LEG OF THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR JACKSON WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN AND UPON ARRIVAL WAS DISCOURAGED FROM CONTINUING ON HIS FLIGHT TO BILLINGS BY FBO PERSONAL AT THE JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT. ONE FBO EMPLOYEE DESCRIBED THE WEATHER AT JACKSON AS 'HORRIBLE'. THE PILOT FUELED AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED FOR LIVINGSTON, MONTANA, FILING NO FLIGHT PLAN AND OBTAINING NO WEATHER BRIEFING UPDATE. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE HE ENCOUNTERED REDUCED VISIBILITY AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN PICKING UP ICE AND SNOW AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND BEGAN A DESCENT. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO THE GROUND.
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: 360 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 360 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1992; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,603 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JAC Jackson Hole WY at 9:10 pm
- Destination: LVM Livingston MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Observation at 8:45 pm from WEY, 56 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.