# NTSB LAX99LA123: Cessna 172M, N5242R, Reno, NV, March 19, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 1999, 15:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.520698, -119.809379 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5207&lon=-119.8094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45939 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45939/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA123 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain runway alignment during the crosswind landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - antenna ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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, sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Susanville at 1300. 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 24 hours were solo flight time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5242R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5242R), registered now, S/N 17263456, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263456 - Airframe hours: 6400 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nevada-Cal Aero Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 17, 1999, 20 hours before - Departed: SVE, SUSANVILLE, CA - Destination: RNO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RNO, Reno Tahoe Intl, runway 16L, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 69 total, 67 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO ## 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 19990319002309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990319002309A), Mar 19, 1999: Cessna 172M, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. 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… 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.