Cessna 320D accident near Green River, Wyoming, April 12, 2012
On April 12, 2012 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 320D, registered N32EG, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Green River, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering in marginal weather conditions, which resulted in an exceedence of the design stress limits of the airplane and a subsequent in-flight structural failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2012 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Green River, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320D · all 320Ds on the register
- Registration
- N32EG · no longer on the register · serial 320D0009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated pilot departed in the high-performance multiengine airplane on a cross-country flight over mountainous terrain. Mixed rain and snow showers were reported in the area, and lightning flash data and surface observations indicate vigorous snow shower activity around the time and location of the accident. Recorded radar returns believed to be associated with the accident airplane showed a radar track on a westerly heading at cruise altitudes between 10,000 and 12,000 feet mean sea level. The radar track then depicted a descending 720-degree turn over the course of several miles. Following the turn, the radar track showed multiple heading and altitude changes over the course of about 2 minutes. The last observed radar return was about 0.4 mile from the accident location. The wreckage debris was scattered over an area about 0.4 mile in length. Pieces of the cockpit and a section of the right elevator were located at the southeast perimeter of the debris field; the fuselage and both engines located at the opposite, northwest, end of the debris field. Sections of the wings, flight control surfaces and horizontal stabilizer were also scattered between the beginning of the debris field and the main wreckage. Examination of the wing and horizontal stabilizer spars fracture surfaces showed features consistent with overstress separation in-flight and no evidence of fatigue was noted. Given the radar track, the length of the wreckage debris field, and the marginal weather conditions, it is likely that the break-up sequence was inadvertently induced as the pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane out of marginal weather conditions, which ultimately led to an exceedence of the design stress limits of the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during enroute (cruise)
- Abrupt maneuver during maneuvering
- Aircraft structural failure during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Dynamic load › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Snow › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,627 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2011
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSI0-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KSNY Sidney NE at 9:30 pm
- Destination: KWMC Winnemucca NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; a few clouds at 200 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 11:07 pm from KRKS, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 WPR12FA164.