Cessna 172 accident near Reno, Nevada, April 12, 1986
On April 12, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5786T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Cannon International 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 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
- April 12, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Cannon International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5786T · registry record · serial 17251686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING HIGH GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE ACFT THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY. THE WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS FROM 280 DEGREES AT 28 KNOTS GUSTING TO 31 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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPA Tonapah NV
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,101 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 28 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Observation at 7:31 pm from RNO
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.