# NTSB WPR26LA048: Aviat A1, N96WJ, Evanston, WY, October 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2025, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Evanston, WY · Rural Evanston, WY - Coordinates: 41.342833, -110.88816 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3428&lon=-110.8882&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 14, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202034 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202034/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202034 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA048 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with downdrafts in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight through mountainous terrain in marginal weather conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was flying cross-country to his home airport. While en route, the pilot determined that weather conditions prevented continued flight to his planned destination, and chose to divert to another airport. According to the pilot, while en route to his diversion airport over mountainous terrain, he encountered low ceilings of about 500 to 1,000 ft above ground level and strong downdrafts. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and impacted rising terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident would likely have been prevented if he had stopped at an airport he had passed prior to reaching the mountainous terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96WJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96WJ), registered now, S/N 3397, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT A1 (C200) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1C-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-200) (registry code 2210411) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1D6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1d6) (registry code 41822, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3397 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 85 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dk Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 2025, 5 hours before - Departed: KLSK, Lusk, WY - Destination: KBMC, Brigham, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2024; seat: front; flight hours: 1,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 260° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 47 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KEVW, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KEVW 102253Z AUTO 22013G20KT 10SM SCT100 18/08 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP134 T01780083= ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202034. 25.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 22.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19779425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PilotSigned6120-1_Redacted-flattened-Rel.pdf - First responder statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19890450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC-Deputy-First-Responder_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos of accident airplane (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 518 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20032259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA048-photos-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20077963&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-ROC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Meteorology environmental conditions (item 5, PDF, 23 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20092443&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA048%20-%20Evanston,%20WY%20Enviormental_Conditions-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.