Cessna 172M accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada, September 10, 1988
On September 10, 1988 at about 6:39 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N8895V, was destroyed in an accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada (Lander County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 10, 1988 · about 6:39 pm local time
- Place
- Battle Mountain, Nevada · Lander County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8895V · no longer on the register · serial 17264253
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND 200 FEET AGL, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT, AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CLIMBING AND POWER LINES WERE IN THE FLIGHT PATH. DURING THE TURN, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,500 FEET. THE WINDS WERE 17 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN 50 POUNDS OF GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES EXCEPT WORN SPARKS PLUGS.
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: 220 hours in all; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,913 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 8, 1988; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AUN Auburn CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 7,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from BAM, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.