Cessna 172 accident near Bullfrog, Utah, September 9, 1994
On September 9, 1994 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N9918Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullfrog, Utah (Bullfrog Basin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND EXCEEDED THE AIRPLANE'S MAXIMUM CROSSWIND COMPONENT CAPABILITY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1994 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bullfrog, Utah · Bullfrog Basin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9918Q · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A FULL STOP LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. STRONG CROSSWINDS WITH REPORTED GUSTS OF 45 MILES PER HOUR WERE BLOWING FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SOUTHERLY RUNWAY AND THEN BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO A MOUND OF DIRT.
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: 105 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 74 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hi Valley Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PVU Provo UT at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:45 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA94LA238.