Cessna 172P accident near Reno, Nevada, October 2, 1992
On October 2, 1992 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N5394K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). It was an instructional 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 STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION AND IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1992 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5394K · no longer on the register · serial 17274093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NONCERTIFICATED SOLO STUDENT PILOT INTENDED TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT A NEARBY AIRPORT. THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE DURING THE FIRST LANDING AND BEGAN TO WHEEL BARREL DOWN THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT THE STUDENT PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH.
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: student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,894 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 15, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 8,080 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N5394K 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.