Cessna 340 accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 24, 2021
On July 24, 2021 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 340, registered N419TT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Rock Springs, Wyoming (Southwest Wyoming Regional Air airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper pitch control during takeoff which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2021 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Springs, Wyoming · Southwest Wyoming Regional Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340, built 1972 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N419TT · no longer on the register · serial 340-0091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before takeoff he calculated the density altitude to be 9,700 ft. During takeoff, shortly after rotation, he “felt” that the airplane was slightly nose high and the stall warning horn aural alert activated, and the airplane began to shudder. The pilot then aborted the takeoff after he found it difficult to nose the airplane down to attain airspeed. About 10 ft above the ground, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and landed tail first then a hard bounce on the main landing gear. Subsequently, the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,212 hours in all; 189 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,085 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,634 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 6,390 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 - NB (piston); 3,676 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 - NB (piston); 4,044 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRKS Rock Springs WY at 7:00 pm
- Destination: KOSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from KRKS, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRKS 241854Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/M03 A3032 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Damage Estimate | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.