Cessna 172N accident near Minden, Nevada, April 20, 1990
On April 20, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N1065F, was destroyed in an accident near Minden, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1065F · no longer on the register · serial 17272942
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING IN AN AREA OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ONE PASSENGER WANTED THE PILOT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN AND WHEN HE LEVELED THE WINGS EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT DISORIENTATION AND NOTED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING AND THE VERTICAL SPEED INIDICATOR INDICATED A 200 FPM CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE AT THIS TIME HAD TRAVELLED INTO A CANYON. THE PILOT DID NOT FEEL THAT A TURN WAS POSSIBLE AND REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT OUT CLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN AS THE AIRSPEED WAS NEAR STALLING SPEED. THE PILOT PREPARED FOR A COLLISION WITH THE TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 101 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,023 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1990; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,307 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mercury Air Center
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.