- Date
- August 9, 2021, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5735RCessna 172
- Defining event
- Enroute-climb to cruise: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20210809013569A
- Case key
- 103661
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 pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain prior to encountering a downdraft, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while climbing toward mountainous terrain and approaching a ridgeline, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The airplane was unable to outclimb the terrain, and too low to turn around, so the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to desert terrain. The airplane struck the ground, nosed over, and came to rest inverted substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he could have avoided the accident if he approached the terrain at a higher altitude.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5735R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17253404
- Built
- 1965
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Davis Richard B
- Registered owner
- Davis Richard B
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 7, 2021 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- KRNO · Reno, NV
- Destination
- O43 · Yerrington, NV
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- 78
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 15, 2020
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total · 400 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.08 inHg
- Observed at
- KRNO, 6 nm away
- METAR
- SPECI KRNO 091900Z VRB03KT 3SM FU OVC032 27/01 A3008 RMK AO2 FU OVC032 T02720011=
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 845 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.