Piper PA-32-300 accident near Reno, Nevada, July 24, 1991
On July 24, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N72JP, 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; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF HIS AIRPLANE AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno Cannon Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N72JP · no longer on the register · serial 32-7640117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLLOUT ON RUNWAY 34L THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS AIRPLANE BEGAN 'FISH TAILING', AND HE LOST CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE 150 FOOT WIDE BY 10,002 FOOT LONG RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM. NINETEEN MINUTES LATER THE TOWER REPORTED THE LOCAL WIND WAS FROM 300 DEGREES, AT 16 KNOTS. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,292 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APC Napa CA at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 10,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:19 pm from RNO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.