Alon AIRCOUPE A-2 accident near Cody, Wyoming, July 4, 1995
On July 4, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Alon AIRCOUPE A-2, registered N718RS, was destroyed in an accident near Cody, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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 WHILE MANEUVERING TO REVERSE COURSE. A FACTOR WAS THE DOWNDRAFTS ENCOUNTERED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cody, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon AIRCOUPE A-2 AIRCOUPE A
- Registration
- N718RS · no longer on the register · serial A-82
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING IN LEAD POSITION WITH TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT IN TRAIL. THE PILOTS WERE FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY TOWARD A MOUNTAIN PASS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT, DOWNDRAFTS WERE ENCOUNTERED, AND THE PILOTS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED COURSE REVERSAL. THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DECLARED ON THE RADIO BEFORE CRASHING THAT HE COULDN'T GAIN ALTITUDE.
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: 875 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: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: COD WY at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MSO Missoula MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.