Cessna 172N accident near Boulder City, Nevada, July 1, 2001
On July 1, 2001 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power while in cruise flight due to the mechanic's improper magneto timing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2001 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder City, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737SH · registry record · serial 172-69636
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The engine lost power 2 days prior to the accident due to an internal magneto timing problem. The magneto timing was reset and the airplane was returned to service. A post accident examination of the engine revealed the magneto contact points would not open. The magneto was retimed and found to operate normally. According to the maintenance records, a 100-hour inspection took place 3.1 hours prior to the accident. The earlier magneto maintenance adjustment took place at an unknown time between the 100-hour inspection and the accident flight.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 92 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 39 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 7, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,273.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 28, 2001; 3.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Westair Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 61B Boulder City NV at 1:55 pm
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KLAS, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.