Cessna 172N accident near Casper, Wyoming, February 26, 2024
On February 26, 2024 at about 7:32 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172N, registered N739UE, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Casper, Wyoming (Casper/Natrona County Intl airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taxiing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2024 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- Casper, Wyoming · Casper/Natrona County Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1978 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N739UE · no longer on the register · serial 17270810
- 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, after landing with a crosswind, he exited the runway onto a taxiway using crosswind correction with the ailerons and elevator. Shortly after, the airplane was struck by a gust of wind and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
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 taxi (from runway)
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (from runway) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during taxi (from runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,106 hours in all; 936 in this make and model; 301 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 916 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 10, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,891 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 2024; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 244 hours total
- Operator: American Patrols INC
The flight
- Departed from: CYS Cheyenne WY at 4:42 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 10,165 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 36 knots, gusting 53
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KCPR, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCPR 261953Z 24039G53KT 10SM CLR 11/M08 A2951 RMK AO2 PK WND 24053/1949 SLP968 T01111083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident site, left side view of the main wreckage.
Photograph 2 – Accident site, forward view of the wreckage.
Photograph 3 – Accident site, view of the empennage.
Photograph 4 – Accident site, right side view of the wreckage.
Photograph 5 – Accident site, view of the right wing.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 15, 2024. 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 | Photo Array-accident Site (Courtesy of Casper Fire) | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | 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.