Cessna 170B accident near Afton, Wyoming, July 17, 1995
On July 17, 1995 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N3165B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Afton, Wyoming (Afton Muni 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
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION AND A STALL NOT IDENTIFIED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1995 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Afton, Wyoming · Afton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3165B · no longer on the register · serial 25407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A STUDENT SOLO FLIGHT, THE PILOT ENTERED THE PATTERN TO PRACTICE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS A LITTLE HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH AND THE AIRPLANE FLOATED WHEN OVER THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE'S ANGLE OF ATTACK INCREASED AND THE PILOT OPTED TO GO-AROUND. WHEN FULL POWER WAS ADDED, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND THE LEFT WING DROPPED, CONTACTING THE GROUND AND A FENCE POST. THE AIRPLANE THEN SEMI-CARTWHEELED TO A STOP.
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: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1995; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,680 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.