Pilot Debrief

VANS RV3-A near Torrington, WY — 2025-09-27

Investigation ongoingWPR25LA299
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Date
2025-09-27
Location
Torrington, WY, USA
Airport
TOR
Aircraft
VANS RV3-A
Registration
N16MR
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

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.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Takeoff
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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