Cessna 404 accident near Sheridan, Wyoming, September 18, 2021
On September 18, 2021 at about 1:50 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 404, registered N5409G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sheridan, Wyoming (Sheridan County airport). It was an other work-use flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot experiencing an episode of impaired behavior and incapacitation for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2021 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sheridan, Wyoming · Sheridan County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 404, built 1977 · all 404s on the register
- Registration
- N5409G · registry record · serial 404-0028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the flight and landing approach were uneventful. He recalled configuring the airplane for landing by extending the landing gear and flaps then began the landing flare. His next recollection was of being in the airplane at the right side of the runway surrounded by a cloud of dust. He did not have any recollection of how the airplane got there. Examination of the airplane found the landing gear had collapsed; the nose structure was deformed. While the exact cause of the pilot’s behavior change could not be determined from the available evidence, it is likely he was impaired by a medical event during landing and then possibly incapacitated for a short time. A number of possibilities could explain this event, none of which would have left any direct evidence and all of which could have caused a period of unconsciousness or amnesia. Although he was diagnosed with COVID-19 following the accident, symptoms would have been unlikely to suddenly severely impair the pilot and his memory but allow him to fully recover within a few minutes.
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
- Medical event during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Other loss of consciousness › Pilot
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,859 hours in all; 3,217 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 12,742 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27,377 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 30, 2021; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,400 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 114 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 804 hours total
- Operator: Richland Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: BIL Billings MT at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15/3, 8,301 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KSHR, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSHR 181353Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 14/01 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP114 T01440011=
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 WPR21LA350.