Cessna 172M accident near Incline Village, Nevada, April 13, 1990
On April 13, 1990 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9021H, was destroyed in an accident near Incline Village, Nevada. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE TREES (OBSTRUCTIONS).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1990 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Incline Village, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9021H · registry record · serial 17265904
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A STUDENT DEMO FLT, THE INSTRUCTOR PLT WAS FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE, THEN DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED & IMPACTED THE GROUND. ELEVATION AT THE CRASH SITE WAS 8700 FT, DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 10,140 FT, & THE ACFT WAS LOADED NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WT.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 380 as pilot in command; 90 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,831 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 25, 1990; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 6:31 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from RNO, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.