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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 3, 1992 · Cessna 172G · N4417L

Tonopah, NV

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 3, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Tonopah, NV
Aircraft
Cessna 172G
Tail Number
N4417L
Operator
Fallon Airmotive
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX92LA286

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.

NTSB 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.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 PDT
Nearest AirportDirt Field (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172G
Tail NumberN4417L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFallon Airmotive
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 9 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data