Cessna 172K accident near Sandy Valley, NV
On September 26, 1997, a Cessna 172K (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sandy Valley, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 26, 1997
- Place
- Sandy Valley, NV
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.750°N, 115.531°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08875
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 25, 1997, about 1735 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N84621, en route to Boulder City, Nevada, collided with mountainous terrain near Sandy Valley, Nevada. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. The aircraft was operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Sky Ranch airport in Sandy Valley about 1700. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to a witness, a retired airline pilot, the pilot landed at Sky Ranch airport about 1500. He described the weather at the time as approximately 600-foot runway visual range (RVR), with calm winds and heavy rain. He said that from his position on the airport, the sky to the south appeared to be completely obscured. He asked the pilot over the CTAF/UNICOM frequency if he needed fuel, but he replied that he did not require servicing. The witness, who heard the pilot's side of a telephone conversation, said he told the other party that he was down for weather. When the witness asked the pilot how he found Sky Ranch, he said he was using a handheld GPS receiver, and that he had been "skud-running" all the way from Reno, Nevada. He said he had made a stop due to bad weather in Furnace Creek, California. He asked the pilot if he was instrument rated and the pilot replied that he was rated, but that he was not current. After 2 hours on the ground, the rain stopped and the witness estimated the clouds to the north were now about 1,000 feet with 1 mile
Probable cause
the pilot's intentional VFR flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from mountainous/hilly terrain. Related factors were: the high/mountainous/hilly terrain, and the adverse weather condition (low ceiling).
More accidents in NV
- Cessna 425, Jan 12, 1992
- Cessna TU206G, Dec 7, 1986
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Browse: Nevada · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
