# NTSB DEN90LA151: Cessna 172XP, N736NB, Tooele, UT, July 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1990, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Tooele, UT
- Coordinates: 40.569927, -112.329643 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5699&lon=-112.3296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17965/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA151

## Probable cause

THE FLIGHTS ENCOUNTER WITH TURBLENCE ON FINAL WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
  - climb - not possible, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS LANDING AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE SAID HIS WEATHER BRIEFING SAID TO EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS AND MODERATE TURBULENCE ALONG HIS ROUTE, AND VIRGA IN THE SALT LAKE CITY AREA. AT ONE MILE ON FINAL, THE PLANE A STRONG DOWNDRAFT, FOLLOWED BY AN UPDRAFT. ON SHORT FINAL, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER STRONG DOWNBURST. THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 50 FEET AGL AND THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER TO GO AROUND, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE PLANE STRUCK THE TERRAIN 50 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, HIT A CROSS DITCH, AND SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR, MAIN GEAR AND BENT THE LEFT WING SPAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736NB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736NB-1995-07-25), registration cancelled 1995-07-25, S/N R1722648 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172XP
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722648
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Terry Jones
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: AKA, ROCK SPRINGS, WY
- Destination: US6
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: U26, Tooele, runway 18, 4,200 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 123 total, 123 in this make and model, 86 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900702023349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900702023349A), Jul 2, 1990: Cessna STC172, Tooele, UT, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence on approaching runway. Unable recover from windshear,impacted short of runway.

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.

---
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.