Cessna 172 N5363T

Summary

On 23 June 1995 at about 17:10 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N5363T, operated by Jesse N. Nish, was involved in an accident near Yerington, Nevada, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 1995 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Yerington, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

38.8696, -119.1405

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N5363T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jesse N. Nish

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA221

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO ENTER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO SAFELY ESCAPE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE FLYING WITH TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD, THE PILOT ENTERED A CANYON AREA AT THE 9,500 FOOT LEVEL, AND ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF A 11,320 FOOT MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO THE CANYON FLOOR, AND THE PILOT PROCEEDED AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BEFORE BEING FORCED TO LAND. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 11,000 FEET. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS REPORTED. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE AND SHOULD HAVE ENTERED THE TERRAIN AT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE FOR A BETTER ESCAPE ROUTE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.