# NTSB LAX92LA286: Cessna 172G, N4417L, Tonopah, NV, July 3, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1992, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Tonopah, NV - Coordinates: 38.360431, -116.25962 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3604&lon=-116.2596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28314/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA286 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY AND COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING TAILWIND CONDITIONS, AND, HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO AROUND WHEN HE BECAME AWARE OF BEING HIGH WITH A FAST GROUND SPEED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - utility pole - weather condition - tailwind - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE PLANNED TO LAND IN A FARM FIELD TO SURVEY SOME FARM LAND PRIOR TO BIDDING ON A GRAIN HARVESTING JOB. HE STATED THAT AFTER ARRIVING IN THE AREA HE OVERFLEW THE FIELD SELECTED FOR THE LANDING SEVERAL TIMES LOOKING FOR OBSTRUCTIONS AND SOME WAY TO IDENTIFY THE WIND DIRECTION. IN HIS STATEMENT HE INDICATED THAT HE FOUND NO MEANS TO IDENTIFY THE WIND DIRECTION OR SPEED AND ESTIMATED IT TO BE CALM OR NEARLY SO. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO THE FIELD THE PILOT SAID HE NOTICED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS HIGH AND HAD AN APPARENT FAST GROUND SPEED, HOWEVER, HE ELECTED NOT TO PERFORM A GO AROUND. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT STOP PRIOR TO THE END OF THE FIELD AND IT COLLIDED WITH A POWER POLE AND ROUGH TERRAIN. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE NOTICED THAT HE HAD LANDED WITH A TAILWIND HE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 10 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1992, at about 0930 hours PDT, a Cessna 172G, N4417L, collided on the ground with a power pole and rough terrain during an attempted landing in a farm field near Tonopah, Nevada. The aircraft was owned and operated by Fallon Airmotive of Fallon, Nevada, and was rented by the pilot for a cross country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the operation, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Cedar City, Utah, on the day of the accident at about 0800 hours as a planned trip back to Fallon, Nevada, with an intentional stop at the accident site. According to the pilot, he planned to land in the field to survey some farm land prior to bidding on a grain harvesting job. He stated that after arriving in the area he overflew the field selected for the landing several times looking for obstructions and some way to identify the wind direction. In his statement he indicated that he found no means to identify the wind direction or speed and estimated it to be calm or nearly so. During the final approach to the field the pilot said he noticed that the airplane was high and had an apparent fast ground speed, however, he elected not to perform a go around. After touchdown, the aircraft could not stop prior to the end of the field and it collided with a power pole and rough terrain. The pilot said that after the accident he discovered that he had landed with a tailwind he estimated at about 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4417L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4417L-2012-11-09), registration cancelled 2012-11-09, S/N 17254504, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254504 - Airframe hours: 2513 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fallon Airmotive - Registered owner: Kenneth G. Warner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 18, 1992, 47 hours before - Departed: CDC, CEDAR CITY, UT - Destination: FLX, FALLON, NV - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: NONE, Dirt Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 72 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point -0 °F ## Other investigations on N4417L (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 LAX91LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA119), Mar 2, 1991: Cessna 172G (N4417L), Reno, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/PREPARATION DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITION. 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.