Cessna 172 N5735R

Summary

On 9 August 2021 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N5735R, operated by Davis Richard B, was involved in an accident near Reno, 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

9 August 2021 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Reno, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

39.4293, -119.6622

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N5735R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Davis Richard B

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reno → Yerrington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA308

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain prior to encountering a downdraft, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while climbing toward mountainous terrain and approaching a ridgeline, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The airplane was unable to outclimb the terrain, and too low to turn around, so the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to desert terrain. The airplane struck the ground, nosed over, and came to rest inverted substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he could have avoided the accident if he approached the terrain at a higher altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.