Cessna 182B accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, May 28, 1994
On May 28, 1994 at about 4:00 am local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N2582G, was destroyed in an accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming (Sweetwater County airport). 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
AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE IN THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL. FACTORS INCLUDE A DARK NIGHT, HIGH WINDS, AND THE PILOT'S FATIGUE FROM HIS FLIGHT AND GROUND SCHEDULE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1994 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Rock Springs, Wyoming · Sweetwater County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2582G · no longer on the register · serial 51882
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS TIRED FROM FLYING APPROXIMATELY SEVEN HOURS EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE PILOT DECIDED TO CONDUCT A LOCAL SIGHT- SEEING FLIGHT WITH HIS TWO PASSENGERS. WHEN THE FLIGHT RETURNED TO THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT AFTER DARK, THUNDERSTORMS WERE BUILDING IN THE AREA, AND THERE WERE STRONG GUSTY WINDS. WHILE EXECUTING A STEEP DESCENDING TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT'S DESCENT RATE TO BECOME TOO GREAT, AND THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.
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: 115 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS
- Destination: RKS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,223 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 am from RKS, 1 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.