Pitts S-2B accident near Afton, Wyoming, December 27, 1994
On December 27, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Pitts S-2B, registered N60823, was substantially damaged in an accident near Afton, Wyoming (Afton Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND HIS INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Afton, Wyoming · Afton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-2B · all S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N60823 · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD APPLIED POWER IN ORDER TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND, BUT THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM WAS ONLY AGGRAVATED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM DEPARTING THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND AS IT LEFT THE PAVED SURFACE IT FLIPPED OVER ON THE SNOW COVERED 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: 271 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 176 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 1993; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPR Casper WY at 7:30 pm
- Destination: AFO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,680 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.