Cessna 150 accident near Reno, Nevada, June 26, 2016
On June 26, 2016 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1959 Cessna 150, registered N5842E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with a sign, and left wing damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2016 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150, built 1959 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N5842E · no longer on the register · serial 17342
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during the landing roll of his first solo flight, a gust of wind lifted the left wing of the airplane. He further reported that he attempted to correct with left rudder but the left wing impact the ground. The airplane continued off the runway to the right, impacted an airport marker, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, revealed that, about 10 minutes before the accident the wind was 080 degrees true at 3 knots. A further review revealed that, about 10 minutes after the accident the wind was 150 degrees true at 3 knots. The airplane landed on runway 08.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Ability to respond/compensate
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,949.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 580 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RTS Reno NV at 6:30 pm
- Destination: RTS Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 7,608 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KRTS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.