# Accident 19990319002309A: Cessna 172M, Reno, NV, March 19, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 19, 1999, 15:35 local time - Place: Reno, NV - Airport: Reno/Tahoe International Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 39.5207° N, 119.8094° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5207&lon=-119.8094&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5242R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5242R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Reported engine: LYC O320* - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Student - Pilot flight hours: 69 total, 67 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA123) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990319002309A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT RAN OFF THE RWY AFTER LANDING AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN.(.19) ON MARCH 19, 1999, AT 1535 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172M, N5242R, VEERED OFF RUNWAY 16L AND COLLIDED WITH A METAL ILS ANTENNAE WHILE LANDING AT THE RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN RENO, NEVADA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT HAD DEPARTED THE SUSANVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN SUSANVILLE, CALIFORNIA, UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE AIRCRAFT, OWNED AND OPERATED BY NEVADA-CAL AERO OF RENO, NEVADA, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE DEPARTURE TIME FROM SUSANVILLE IS UNKNOWN. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR FROM THE RENO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE WAS ON SCENE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. IN AN ORAL STATEMENT TO THE INSPECTOR, THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED 10-KNOT WINDS FROM 150 DEGREES WITH SLIGHT GUSTS DURING HIS APPROACH. HE APPLIED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS IN A LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE. HE THEN UNEXPECTEDLY ENCOUNTERED A LEFT-TO-RIGHT CROSSWIND WHICH PROCEEDED TO "BLOW THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY." THE LEFT WING STRUCK A METAL ILS ANTENNAE, CAUSING THE WING STRUT TO BEND AND POP RIVETS. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD RECEIVED AN ENDORSEMENT FOR THIS SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY ORIGINATING AT THE RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WITH A LANDING AT THE SUSANVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, AND A FINAL DESTINATION TO RETURN TO THE RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HE HAD APPROXIMATELY 70 HOURS LOGGED, OF WHICH 50 HOURS WERE SOLO FLIGHT TIME. (.4)THE STUDENT PILOT HAD RECEIVED AN ENDORSEMENT FOR THIS SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY ORIGINATING AT RENO WITH A LANDING AT THE SUSANVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, AND A RETURN TO THE RENO AIRPORT. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED 10-KNOT WINDS FROM 150 DEGREES WITH SLIGHT GUSTS DURING HIS APPROACH. HE APPLIED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND MAINTAINED A LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE. HE THEN UNEXPECTEDLY ENCOUNTERED A STRONGER LEFT-TO-RIGHT CROSSWIND AND HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A METAL ILS ANTENNAE, CAUSING THE WING STRUT TO BEND AND POP RIVETS. (-23)ON 3/19/99, CESSNA, N5242R WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 16L. AS THE AIRCRAFT LANDED THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED SOME STRONG CROSS WINDS FORCING THE AIRCRAFT OFF OF THE RUNWAY INTO THE INFIELD AREA BETWEEN 16L AND 16R. THE PILOT CONTINUED IN THE INFIELD AREA STEERING THE AIRCRAFT AROUND THE ILS BUILDING AND STOPPING SOUTH OF THE BUILDING. DURING THE ATTEMPT TO MISS THE ILS BUILDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AND KNOCKED DOWN TWO POLES ON THE NORHT SIDE OF THE ILS BUILDING. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT ASSIST STEP, LEFT LIFT STRUT, LEFT LIFT STRUT ATTACH POINT IN THE FUSELAGE RESULTING IN SHEARED RIVETS IN THE STRUCTURE, SCRATCHES IN THE COWLING, AND GOUGES IN ONE PROPELLER BLADE. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX99LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA123), Mar 19, 1999: Cessna 172M (N5242R), Reno, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain runway alignment during the crosswind landing. ## Other reports on N5242R (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19970222004389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970222004389I), Feb 22, 1997: Cessna 172M (N5242R), Minden, NV, Minor damage. Narrative:on February 22, 1997, (11:00 pm at night) at Minden, Nevada (mev), N5242R (Cessna 172M), struck four left side runway lights and a taxiway light… - [Incident 19940112002449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940112002449I), Jan 12, 1994: Cessna 172M (N5242R), Reno, NV, Minor damage. Narrative: pilot deviation pwpt rno 94001. Pilot was cleared for touch and go on runway 16 left. Pilot made touch and go on runway 16 right. Another aircraft… - [Incident 19910621028129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910621028129I), Jun 21, 1991: Cessna 172M (N5242R), Reno, NV, Minor damage. Student made a hard landing. Lost control after touch down. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.