Cessna 172L accident near Wheatland, Wyoming, April 17, 1995
On April 17, 1995 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7011Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheatland, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE AIRFRAME ICING ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1995 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Wheatland, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7011Q · no longer on the register · serial 17260311
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF FORECAST OCCASIONAL MODERATE RIME ICING IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION FROM THE FREEZING LEVEL TO 12000 FEET. EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AIRFRAME ICING CONDITIONS. AS THE AIRPLANE ICED UP, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. ATC VECTORED THE PILOT TOWARDS WHEATLAND AIRPORT BEFORE HE LOST RADIO CONTACT. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED DESCENDING UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN IN ZERO VISIBILITY AND NOSED OVER. THE ELT FUNCTIONED AND THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE RESCUED THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 439 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1994; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTJ Montrose CO
- Destination: CYS Cheyenne WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from LAR, 40 miles away
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.