Cessna 172 accident near Gillette, Wyoming, February 27, 1994
On February 27, 1994 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N21840, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gillette, Wyoming (Gillette-Campbell County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE, AND A LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1994 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gillette, Wyoming · Gillette-Campbell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N21840 · registry record · serial 17264031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS ON HER SECOND SOLO FLIGHT, HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED 13 TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE FOURTEENTH LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE, AND DURING THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED REMEDIAL ACTION, SHE ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE WHEEL TO IMPACT THE RUNWAY HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME.
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: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,127 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1994; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gillette Air, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GCC
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.