Carson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carson City, Nevada 89701
Monday, August 8, 1994 12:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 AND ENCOUNTERED A VERY STRONG LEFT-QUARTERING WIND GUST AT TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 220 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS ESTIMATED AT 25 KNOTS OR HIGHER. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY, THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS 15 KNOTS. THE MINIMUM GUST CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE OBSERVED WINDS WAS COMPUTED AT 17 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's decision to attempt a landing in crosswind conditions which exceeded the capability of the aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1220
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CARSON CITY
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89701
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CARSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O04
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4697
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 7500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 783
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 8 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1310
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4390R
NTSB Number LAX94LA310
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17263140
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 26 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ERWIN E. MARTELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1207 S. 4TH STREET, #7
Aircraft Owner City LAS VEGAS
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89104
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ERWIN E. MARTELL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1207 S. 4TH STREET, #7
Operator City LAS VEGAS
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89104
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 1S4
Departure City SCAPOOSE
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 820
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code O04
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 5900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --