Cessna 172K accident near Laramie, Wyoming, August 26, 1994
On August 26, 1994 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79444, was destroyed in an accident near Laramie, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN. DOWNDRAFT WIND ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE RIDGELINE WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1994 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Laramie, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79444 · no longer on the register · serial 17258093
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN ABOUT 500 FEET BELOW RIDGELINE WHILE MANEUVERING IN A BOWL OR CANYON, DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING. SURFACE WINDS AT THE NEAREST REPORTING FACILITY WERE FIFTEEN KNOTS, APROXIMATELY PERPENDICULAR TO THE RIDGELINE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE RIDGELINE AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. POST-CRASH FIRE CONSUMED ABOUT 10 ACRES OF FOREST.
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: 640 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 48V Erie CO at 9:00 pm
- Destination: RKS Rock Springs WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from LAR
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.