History of Flight
On March 21, 2023, about 1601 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182S, registration N314FR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Alcova, Wyoming. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The operator reported that the pilot departed Evanston-Uinta County Airport - Burns Field (EVW) in Evanston, Wyoming, for an aerial pipeline patrol flight. Operator flight tracking data showed the airplane's flight track about 30 miles south of Casper, Wyoming, near the accident location in mountainous terrain. The flight track showed no further movement from the accident area, prompting the operator to notify Flight Service of a possible mishap, and the Federal Aviation Administration issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT).
A company pilot reported receiving an “SOS alert” message about the possible downed airplane and proceeded to the area. He and another company pilot arrived at the coordinates and conducted a search. He flew over the area for about an hour before needing to land for fuel, after which the other pilot located the airplane. During his search, he flew at approximately 1,000 ft agl and noted it was “fairly windy” and gusty, with some areas of moderate and mountain wave turbulence. He stated it had been bumpy most of the day but worsened north of Laramie, Wyoming, though he did not encounter significant up or down drafts.
Recorded automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data showed the accident airplane overflew Casper at 15:40:48 and turned to a southwest heading for about 30 miles until data was lost at 16:00:44, about 950 ft northwest of the accident site. The wreckage was located by a search and rescue air unit later that evening.
Meteorological Information
The accident site was located north of a cold front, on the cool side. No cloud cover was indicated over the accident site, with a west-east oriented cumulus cloud band between the site and KCPR. Observations from the KCPR Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) around the accident time identified VFR conditions with winds gusting as high as 31 kts. A High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) sounding for the accident site indicated the possibility of low-level wind shear (LLWS) and light clear air turbulence (CAT) between the surface and 500 ft agl. Weather forecast information indicated that AIRMET Tango was valid for the accident site area, forecasting moderate turbulence below 16,000 ft msl. Archived GTG information indicated light to moderate turbulence conditions between 500 and 1,000 ft agl. Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) products issued before the flight indicated VFR conditions with a westerly wind of 10 to 15 kts gusting to 25 kts. A search of archived information indicated that the accident pilot did not request weather information from Leidos Flight Service, and a search of the ForeFlight database did not indicate any flight plans or weather briefings requested by the pilot on the day of the accident. It is unknown what weather information, if any, the pilot checked or received.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted mountainous terrain about 30 miles southwest of Casper (CPR) at an elevation of about 6,990 ft msl. The wreckage came to rest upright and was oriented along a northeast heading on the ridgeline/eastern slope, near the top of the mountain. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Natrona County Coroner's Office in Evansville, Wyoming, which listed the cause of death as "massive blunt force injuries." Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for all drugs tested.
Additional Information
The FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C) describes environmental factors associated with mountain flying. The handbook states that turbulence, including clear air turbulence, mountain waves, wind shear, and thunderstorms or microbursts, can cause upset and loss of control in flight. It defines wind shear as a sudden, drastic shift in wind speed, direction, or both that may occur in the horizontal or vertical plane.