| Crash location | 42.770000°N, 111.310000°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Auburn, WY
42.792149°N, 111.003265°W 15.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N5660J |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 13 Aug 2018 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 172 |
| Additional details: | None |
On August 13, 2018, about 0908 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N5660J, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain about 13 miles west of Auburn, Wyoming. The commercial pilot and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Eagle Flight Services LLC., and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial observation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight departed Auburn Municipal Airport (AFO) Afton, Wyoming, about 0850.
According to the pilot, while conducting aerial observation of markers for a local mine, downdrafts were experienced that made the terrain clearance in front of the airplane questionable. The pilot made a 180° left turn in an attempt to exit from the high terrain. However, after completion of the turn, the airplane was unable to climb over terrain and struck several trees.