Cessna 152II accident near Reno, Nevada, July 20, 1984
On July 20, 1984 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152II, registered N48745, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno Cannon International airport). It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1984 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno Cannon International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152II · all 152IIs on the register
- Registration
- N48745 · no longer on the register · serial 2664
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE CFI, WHEN HE & HIS STUDENT WERE ON APPROACH FOR LANDING ON RWY 16R, HE RECEIVED A REPORT OF WIND SHEAR.THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTING HIS STUDENT IN THE 'WING DOWN' METHOD FOR X-WIND LANDINGS & THE ACFT TOUCHED-DOWNON ITS RIGHT WHEEL FIRST. THEREAFTER, THE LEFT WHEEL & NOSE WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN. THE CFI REPORTED THAT FOLLOWING THIS A 'STRONG WIND BURST (250 DEG. AT 10 TO 15 KTS.) HIT THE ACFT, VEERING IT SHARPLY TO THE LEFT.' THE CFI REPORTEDLY ADDED FULL POWER IN A RECOVERY ATTEMPT, BUT CONTROL WAS LOST AS THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE. TO AVOID STALLING, THE CFI STATED THAT HE 'NOSED THE ACFT OVER.' THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A MOUND OF DIRT PILED BESIDE A DRAINAGE DITCH BETWEEN THE RUNWAYS & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,449 hours in all; 560 in this make and model; 248 in the last 90 days; 1,298 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,664 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 6, 1984; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 10:30 pm
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from RNO
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.
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.