Cessna 172M accident near Carson City, Nevada, August 8, 1994
On August 8, 1994 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N4390R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carson City, Nevada (Carson 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 decision to attempt a landing in crosswind conditions which exceeded the capability of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1994 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Carson City, Nevada · Carson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N4390R · registry record · serial 17263140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 AND ENCOUNTERED A VERY STRONG LEFT-QUARTERING WIND GUST AT TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 220 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS ESTIMATED AT 25 KNOTS OR HIGHER. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY, THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS 15 KNOTS. THE MINIMUM GUST CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE OBSERVED WINDS WAS COMPUTED AT 17 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,006 hours in all; 609 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 957 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1994; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1S4 Scapoose OR at 3:20 pm
- Destination: O04
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 5,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.