Cessna 172A accident near Reno, Nevada, January 8, 1990
On January 8, 1990 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172A, registered N7878T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno Stead 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO ARRIVE AT WORK ON TIME, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 1990 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno Stead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172A · all 172As on the register
- Registration
- N7878T · no longer on the register · serial 17247478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS BLOWN OVER ONTO ITS BACK WHILE THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF IN STRONG, GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE PILOT OBTAINED WX FROM A RADIO BROADCAST AND FROM PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF THE ARPT WIND SOCK FOR A FLT TO COMMUTE TO WORK.
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: 180 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,371 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1989; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from RNO, 11 miles away
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.