Cessna 172S N328SP

Summary

On 7 February 2013 at about 01:10 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N328SP, operated by Flying Start Aero, was involved in an accident near Minden, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 February 2013 at 01:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Minden-Tahoe Airport (KMEV)

Coordinates

38.9814, -119.4928

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N328SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Flying Start Aero

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

MInden → MInden

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13FA116

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering over mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The owner of the fixed-base operator (FBO) at the airport reported that the pilot stated to him that he wanted to go flying before it got dark. He added that the pilot had the airplane fully fueled and that he saw the airplane taxiing away from the FBO's hangar. An FBO employee who was monitoring the airport's UNICOM frequency reported hearing the pilot call for taxi then takeoff. The following day, the operator and FBO personnel noted that the airplane had not returned to the airport. A search was initiated, and the wreckage was located in the mountains 14 miles east of the airport. Radar data showed the airplane at 8,600 ft mean sea level (msl) and then continuing on an easterly course while climbing to 11,400 ft msl. Ten minutes later, the airplane turned 180 degrees and then proceeded in a westerly direction. About 1 1/2 minutes later, the airplane entered a rapid descent. The final radar return was at 10,500 ft msl in the immediate vicinity of the airplane wreckage. The airplane collided with terrain in a nose-down attitude. Postaccident airplane wreckage examination did not reveal any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's radio transmissions were routine. Although the pilot had recently returned from Afghanistan to address a personal situation, and, therefore, was likely experiencing some fatigue and emotional strain during the period preceding the accident, there was insufficient evidence to determine the extent to which these factors affected the pilot's performance or ability to maintain airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.