Cessna 172M accident near Minden, Nevada, July 8, 1991
On July 8, 1991 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9598H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Nevada (Douglas County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT PILOT DURING A SIMULATED EMERGENCY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1991 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Douglas County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9598H · registry record · serial 17266256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SIMULATED SOFT FIELD, OBSTACLE CLEARANCE TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 60 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR GAVE HIS STUDENT A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. AT ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY DURING THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING GLIDE, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTED A HIGH SINK RATE AND TOOK THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD; BOUNCED BACK IN THE AIR; AND LANDED HARD AGAIN. DURING THE SECOND CONTACT, THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN RIGHT BY ABOUT 45 DEGREES. THE INSTRUCTOR, NOTING THAT HIS AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING TOWARD SOME AIRCRAFT PARKED TO HIS FRONT, MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY TO AVOID A COLLISION. ABOUT 100 FEET AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH AND CAME TO A STOP.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 533 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 79 in the last 30 days; 464 as pilot in command; 53 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: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 004 Carson City NV at 3:19 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N9598H 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.