Piper PA 28R-201T accident near Reno, NV
On September 12, 2016, a Piper PA 28R-201T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Reno, NV. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 12, 2016
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-201T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.504°N, 119.777°W
- NTSB ID
- 20160911X20520
Official records · WPR16FA178
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Reno (KRNO) Ground Control Audio: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
- Reno (KRNO) Tower Control Audio: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 11, 2016, at 1813 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, N821ET, impacted an airport parking lot after takeoff from Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to RCS3 LLC and was being operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the personal flight, which was destined for San Carlos Airport (SQL), San Carlos, California. The purpose of the flight was to transport the rear-seat passenger from Nevada to California, where a series of warrants had been issued for her arrest. The front-seat passenger was a California-based bail bondsman, and the pilot was his associate. Security video footage and records provided by the fixed-base operator (FBO) at RNO indicated that the airplane arrived at the FBO about 1715. A fuel order was placed 5 minutes later, and the pilot and bail bondsman then walked to the FBO's reception area. The fueling was complete by 1725, and by 1741 the pilot had returned. He removed the chocks, leant over the wings and appeared to briefly look into both fuel tank filler necks, and then boarded the airplane. About 5 minutes later the bail bondsman arrived with the arrested passenger, who was restrained by leg chains. Although her entry into the airplane was obscured from view by the fuselage, she appeared to make multiple attempts to step up into t
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to depart with the airplane loaded above its maximum gross weight and at or just beyond its aft center of gravity limitations, which resulted in a loss of control during the initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the pressure to complete the flight as planned, and the pilot's use of multiple impairing drugs, which degraded his decision-making.
More accidents in NV
- Cessna 425, Jan 12, 1992
- Cessna TU206G, Dec 7, 1986
- Beech A36TC, Dec 25, 2003
- Cessna T21OL, Mar 1, 1982
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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.
