# NTSB DEN76AD034: Cessna 320E, N3440Q, Sinclair, WY, February 18, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1976
- Place: Sinclair, WY · SINCLAIR, WY
- Location: 41.7761° N, 107.1199° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sinclair, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7761&lon=-107.1199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152740
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76AD034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76AD034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0518  76/2/18    SINCLAIR,WY         CESSNA 320E         CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0845                    N3440Q              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 41, 1601 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            271 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RAWLINS MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          CHEYENNE,WY                 RETURN                       RAWLINS,WY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              20
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       28
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      SPECIAL VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- SNOW BEGAN 0817 LST.PEAK SURFACE WINDS 40KTS AT 0836 LST.ICE ACCUMULATED ON GROUND VECHICLES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3440Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3440Q-1976-05-12), registration cancelled 1976-05-12, S/N 320E0040 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320E
- Registry model: [Cessna 320E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320e) (registry code 2074514) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Rawlins Muni

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19760218006329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760218006329A), Feb 18, 1976: Cessna 320E, Sinclair, WY, Destroyed. Snow began 0817 lst. Peak surface winds 40KTS at 0836 lst. Ice accumulated on ground vechicles.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.