Cessna 172N N1065F

Summary

On 20 April 1990 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N1065F, operated by Mercury Air Center, was involved in an accident near Minden, Nevada, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 April 1990 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

39.0097, -119.7507

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N1065F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mercury Air Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reno → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA90LA069

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING IN AN AREA OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ONE PASSENGER WANTED THE PILOT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN AND WHEN HE LEVELED THE WINGS EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT DISORIENTATION AND NOTED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING AND THE VERTICAL SPEED INIDICATOR INDICATED A 200 FPM CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE AT THIS TIME HAD TRAVELLED INTO A CANYON. THE PILOT DID NOT FEEL THAT A TURN WAS POSSIBLE AND REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT OUT CLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN AS THE AIRSPEED WAS NEAR STALLING SPEED. THE PILOT PREPARED FOR A COLLISION WITH THE TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.