Cessna 172G accident near Reno, Nevada, March 2, 1991
On March 2, 1991 at about 7:14 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N4417L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno Cannon Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/PREPARATION DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1991 · about 7:14 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno Cannon Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4417L · no longer on the register · serial 17254504
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 1432-HOUR COMMERCIAL PILOT LISTENED TO THE LOCAL ATIS BROADCAST WHICH REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. THEREAFTER, THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, AND HE PROCEEDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS TAXI CLEARANCE. ENROUTE TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY THE PILOT STOPPED HIS AIRPLANE ON A 070 DEGREE HEADING TO ALLOW GROUND TRAFFIC TO PASS HIS POSITION. WHILE HOLDING, A GUST OF WIND UPSET HIS AIRPLANE TIPPING IT INTO ITS NOSE AND LEFT WING. TWO MINUTES LATER THE GROUND CONTROLLER NOTIFIED ANOTHER AIRPLANE THAT THE WIND WAS PRESENTLY FROM 150 DEGREES AT 40 KNOTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,432 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 1,296 as pilot in command; 49 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 10,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 40 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Observation at 7:16 pm from RNO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N4417L 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.