Vans RV6 accident near Afton, Wyoming, December 18, 2022
On December 18, 2022 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2004 Vans RV6, registered N78HJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Afton, Wyoming (Afton Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during landing on a contaminated runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 2022 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Afton, Wyoming · Afton Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans RV6, built 2004
- Registration
- N78HJ · no longer on the register · serial 21043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was planning to complete a touch and go landing on the same runway he departed from 15 minutes earlier, which contained patches of snow and ice. When the airplane touched down, it encountered a patch of ice and skidded left. The plane collided with snow then nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,611 hours in all; 505 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,542 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 728 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 15, 2022; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 728 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAFO Afton WY at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,025 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 3°F (-16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KAFO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAFO 182155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M16/M18 A2988
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 23, 2023. 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 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Partial) | PDF, 2 pages | 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.