Cessna 120 accident near Smith Valley, Nevada, June 8, 2012
On June 8, 2012 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N1875N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Smith Valley, Nevada (Smith Valley 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 failure of the right main landing gear strut due to corrosion-induced fatigue, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2012 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Smith Valley, Nevada · Smith Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N1875N · no longer on the register · serial 12119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane bounced during the landing, and when it touched down again, it veered to the left. The pilot applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway surface into sagebrush. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear strut was transversely fractured through the upper attachment hole for the step bracket. Subsequent metallurgical examination revealed that the fracture surface was indicative of fatigue and originated in an area of corrosion.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 203 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,934 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2011
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Valley View Flyers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 043 Yerrington NV at 4:55 pm
- Destination: NV33 Smith Valley NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,200 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KTVL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.