2013 Cessna 172S Mountain Collision Near Minden, Nevada (N328SP)

Accident Overview and Flight History On February 6, 2013, at approximately 1710 Pacific Standard Time, a Cessna 172S, registration N328SP, collided with mountainous terrain 14 miles east of Minden, Nevada. The aircraft was registered to an individual and operated by Flying Start Aero as a rental under 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions were present, and no visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Minden-Tahoe Airport at approximately 1645. The pilot informed airport personnel of his intention to fly before dark. The aircraft was fully fueled, and the pilot was observed taxiing from the fixed-base operations hangar. Airport personnel monitoring the UNICOM frequency reported hearing the pilot request taxi and takeoff at 1645. The following day, the operator and fixed-base operations personnel noted the aircraft had not returned, prompting a search. The Douglas County Sheriff located the wreckage at 1500 in the mountains 14 miles east of the airport. A review of the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) 123.05 MHz recording between 1630 and 1701 PST showed the pilot requesting taxi at 1646. At 1649, he transmitted that he was taking runway 34 and departing east. His final radio call at 1651 indicated a left downwind departure from runway 34. Radar data from the 84th RADES Unit at Hill Air Force Base plotted the aircraft's ground track and altitude. The aircraft was acquired by radar at 1657 at 8,600 feet mean sea level. It continued on an easterly course, climbing to 11,400 feet. At 1707, the track turned 180 degrees to a westerly direction. At 1708:24, the aircraft entered a rapid descent. The final radar return occurred at 1708:48 at 10,500 feet, near the wreckage location.