Piper PA-28-180 accident near ELY, NV
On October 6, 1996, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near ELY, NV. 4 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 6, 1996
- Place
- ELY, NV
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 4 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.421°N, 115.000°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06914
NTSB summary
On October 6, 1996, at 1123 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N6614J, operated by the pilot, collided with terrain about 2 miles south of the Ely Airport, Ely, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postimpact ground fire. The private pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported that the airplane took off using runway 18, which is 5,998 feet long. The airport's elevation is 6,255 feet mean sea level. The National Transportation Safety Board calculated that the approximate density altitude was 8,000 feet. The pilot reported that the pretaxi, taxi, and engine run-up procedures were accomplished without any complications. He leaned the mixture for takeoff, extended the wing flaps one notch, and took off. The airplane initially climbed at a 400- to 500-foot-per-minute rate, but then the engine started to "cough/sputter every five seconds or so . . ." The pilot further reported that he reset the mixture control to the full rich position and verified that the carburetor heat was off; however, the engine continued to sputter. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot turned left toward an emergency landing area. The airplane crashed into an open field while in a left wing low attitude. Several witnesses observed the crash. One of the witnesses reported that seconds before the impact, the airplane was "swaying back and forth." Another witness reported seeing the airplane's nose pit
Probable cause
a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to preclude stalling, while turning toward an emergency landing area. A factor related to the accident was: the high density altitude condition.
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Browse: Nevada · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
