Cessna 152 accident near Reno, Nevada, June 27, 1990
On June 27, 1990 at about 9:57 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N64845, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno Cannon airport). It was an instructional 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 USE OF AN INAPPROPRIATE RUNWAY. THE GUSTY TAILWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1990 · about 9:57 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno Cannon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N64845 · no longer on the register · serial 15281451
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN ON RWY 16R, HE WAS AWARE OF A QUARTERING TAILWIND. AFTER TAKEOFF AND APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AGL, A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AS THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED UP THEN DOWN TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WINDS WERE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 11 KT GUSTING TO 20 KT.
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: student
- Flight time: 44 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 10,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:50 pm from RNO
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.
Other NTSB records under N64845 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.