Cessna 172N accident near Pioche, Nevada, April 12, 1986
On April 12, 1986 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734JP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pioche, Nevada (Mount Wilson airport). It was a business 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
- April 12, 1986 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pioche, Nevada · Mount Wilson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734JP · registry record · serial 17268892
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A QUARTER MILE FINAL TO RUNWAY 06 WITH WINDS FROM 150 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS THE PILOT EXPERIENCED TURBULENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS FROM 10 DEGREES AND ADDED FULL POWER. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THEN DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT STRIKING THE MAIN GEAR AND SHEARING OFF THE NOSE GEAR. THE ACFT TRAVELED A SHORT DISTANCE AND NOSED OVER COMING TO REST INVERTED.
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: 1,640 hours in all; 1,510 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 1,555 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,525 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L1 Panaca NV at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 13U Pioche NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 6,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA86LA104.