N4417L

On July 5, 1992, at about 0930 hours PDT, a Cessna 172G, N4417L, collided on the ground with a power pole and rough terrain during an attempted landing in a farm field near Tonopah, Nevada. The aircraft was owned and operated by Fallon Airmotive of Fallon, Nevada, and was rented by the pilot for a cross country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the operation, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Cedar City, Utah, on the day of the accident at about 0800 hours as a planned trip back to Fallon, Nevada, with an intentional stop at the accident site.

According to the pilot, he planned to land in the field to survey some farm land prior to bidding on a grain harvesting job. He stated that after arriving in the area he overflew the field selected for the landing several times looking for obstructions and some way to identify the wind direction. In his statement he indicated that he found no means to identify the wind direction or speed and estimated it to be calm or nearly so. During the final approach to the field the pilot said he noticed that the airplane was high and had an apparent fast ground speed, however, he elected not to perform a go around. After touchdown, the aircraft could not stop prior to the end of the field and it collided with a power pole and rough terrain.

The pilot said that after the accident he discovered that he had landed with a tailwind he estimated at about 10 knots.