Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain situational awareness during a turn which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
NTSB analysis
After accomplishing a touch and go landing, during a moonless night, the pilot initiated a left climbing turn and orientated himself with the departure end of the runway, by looking outside and behind the airplane. While looking outside, the pilot inadvertently put the airplane into a left steep bank and was unable to recover. Prior to the airplane impacting terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings, the pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR15CA059 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 12, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Wendover, Utah
- Nearest airport
- Wendover (ENV)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night, dark
Cessna 182T
- N-number
- N961GW
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2002
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.