Aviat A1 accident near Etna, Wyoming, August 10, 2025
On August 10, 2025 at about 3:11 pm local time, a 2012 Aviat A1, registered N801RA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Etna, Wyoming (Double L Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s premature rotation at insufficient airspeed during takeoff to avoid an unexpected animal on the runway, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose-over during the aborted takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s excessive brake application.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2025 · about 3:11 pm local time
- Place
- Etna, Wyoming · Double L Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A1 C180, built 2012
- Registration
- N801RA · registry record · serial 3169
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a private grass airstrip when an animal ran onto the runway. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the pilot applied abrupt back pressure on the control yoke, and the airplane lifted off before reaching a sufficient airspeed for sustained flight. The airplane settled back onto the runway and bounced. With limited runway remaining, the pilot aborted the takeoff and applied heavy braking, and the airplane subsequently nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,442 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 3,442 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 20, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 2024; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 450 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 am from KAFO, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAFO 101515Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM HZ CLR 08/00 A3034 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Inverted Airplane showing fuselage and tail damage.
Photograph 2 – Overturned airplane on grass runway post-accident.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 December 4, 2025. 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 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.