Grumman US-2C accident near Reno, NV
On April 17, 2000, a Grumman US-2C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Reno, NV. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 17, 2000
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Aircraft
- Grumman US-2C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.667°N, 119.876°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20843
NTSB summary
1.1 HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 17, 2000, about 1035 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman US-2C, N7046U, collided with terrain 1 minute after departure from runway 26 at the Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The airplane remained within the boundaries of the airport. Advance Aviation Services, Inc., owned the airplane. They operated it under contract to the Desert Research Institute, a unit of the University and Community College System of Nevada, as a public-use flight. The three crewmembers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan, and was to return to Stead after seeding clouds to enhance snowfall in the local mountains. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The primary wreckage was at 39 degrees 40.62 minutes north latitude and 119 degrees 52.26 minutes west longitude. Witnesses reported that the airplane began a right turn immediately after departure and appeared to be going slow. One witness reported that he was able to distinguish the individual propeller blades on the right engine, while the left engine propeller blades were indistinguishable. The airplane stopped turning and flew for an estimated 1/4-mile at an altitude of 100 feet. The airplane then continued the right turn at a steep bank angle before disappearing from sight. Then the witness observed a plume of smoke. 1.2 PERSONNEL INFORMATION Due to the destruction of the airplane in the accident sequence, the seating positions of the three crewmembers could not be established with certainty. No one observed the crew board the airplane or
Probable cause
the flying pilot's failure to maintain directional control following a loss of engine power. Also causal was the failure of the flight crew to follow the published checklist and use the rudder assist system, and the decision not to abort the takeoff.
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Browse: Nevada · Grumman 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.
