- Date
- January 8, 1990, 07:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N7878TCessna 172A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900108000299A
- Case key
- 41161
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's improper use of the flight controls. Factors in the accident were the high, gusty wind conditions, the pilot's self induced pressure to arrive at work on time, and his lack of total pilot experience.
Analysis
The acft was blown over onto its back while the private pilot was taxiing for takeoff in strong, gusty crosswind conditions. The pilot obtained wx from a radio broadcast and from personal observation of the arpt wind sock for a flt to commute to work.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7878T
- Reported as
- Cessna 172A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17247478
- Airframe hours
- 2,371
- Engine
- Continental O-300-C, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Marble, William R.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 30, 1989 · 49 hours before
- Departed
- 4SD
- Airport
- 4SD · Reno Stead, runway 26, 7,600 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 180 total · 66 in this make and model · 137 as pilot in command · 62 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RNO, 11 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.