Cessna 172S accident near Jean, Nevada, April 28, 2017
On April 28, 2017 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2001 Cessna 172S, registered N796SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Jean, Nevada (Jean airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s runway selection, which resulted in landing with a tailwind and an unstabilized approach and subsequent runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2017 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S S, built 2001 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N796SP · registry record · serial 172S8720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he chose to make an emergency landing due to his passenger not being responsive. He added that, during the landing, he "shot over and ended up in the grass at the end of the runway." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located about 16 miles northeast of the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 340° at 20 knots, gusting to 32 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 20.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 117 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 28, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,147.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 5,339 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0O2 Baker CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: HND Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20R, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 20 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KHND, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 19, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N796SP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.