# NTSB WPR25LA299: Vans RV3-A, N16MR, Torrington, WY, September 27, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 27, 2025, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Torrington, WY · open field about a half mile west of the airport
- Coordinates: 42.071528, -104.1625 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0715&lon=-104.1625&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201761
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA299
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201761/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA299

## Preliminary report

On September 27, 2025, about 1600 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-3A, N16MR, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Torrington, Wyoming. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the airport manager, the pilot departed runway 10 and during the initial climb, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to return to the runway, however, was unable to make it and initiated a forced landing to an open field about 1/2 mile north of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a berm and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Randall Marvin L VANS RV-3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05608U7), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Randall Marvin L VANS RV-3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05608U7), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16MR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16MR), registered now, S/N 811-3, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV3-A
- Registry model: [Randall Marvin L VANS RV-3A](https://openairdocs.org/model/randall-marvin-l-vans-rv-3a) (registry code 05608U7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 811-3
- Year built: 1988
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vanguard Squadron Inc
- Registered owner: Vanguard Squadron Inc
- Destination: SUX, Sioux City, IA
- Airport: TOR

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: TOR, 0.5 nm away
- METAR: 272153Z AUTO 12015G22KT 10SM CLR 27/07 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP131 T02670072

## Other investigations on N16MR (1)

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

- [NTSB GAA17CA458](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA458), Jul 28, 2017: Randall Marvin L Vans RV 3A (N16MR), Spokane, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The other pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance and visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the stationary airplane.

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

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