20210809013569A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172G · Reno, NV · August 9, 2021

Date: August 9, 2021 · 10:30 local
Place: Reno, NV
Airport: Reno/Tahoe International
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5735R
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR21LA308
Reported as: Cessna 172G
Reported engine: Continental 0-300 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 12,000 total400 in this make and model6 in the last 90 days

N5735RRegistered now · Cessna 172GS/N 17253404 · Built 1965 Airframe modelCessna 172G Engine modelContinental 0-300 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

When transitioning the mountains south east of Reno on a VFR flight, the pilot stated that he realized that the performance of his aircraft was inadequate to clear the ridges. The pilot elected to maintain heading and initiated an emergency flaps up landing. The aircraft impacted the ground at about the 5,900 foot level and came to rest inverted.

As the FAA filed it

WHEN TRANSITIONING THE MOUNTAINS SOUTH EAST OF RENO ON A VFR FLIGHT, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE REALIZED THAT THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS AIRCRAFT WAS INADEQUATE TO CLEAR THE RIDGES. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAINTAIN HEADING AND INITIATED AN EMERGENCY FLAPS UP LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT ABOUT THE 5,900 FOOT LEVEL AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR21LA308Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportReno, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain prior to encountering a downdraft, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.Aug 9, 2021 · Substantial damage