Piper PA 31T accident near Elko, NV
On November 19, 2016, a Piper PA 31T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Elko, NV. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 19, 2016
- Place
- Elko, NV
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 31T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.834°N, 115.783°W
- NTSB ID
- 20161119X04951
Official records · WPR17FA024
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 18, 2016, about 1920 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-31T "Cheyenne II" airplane, N779MF, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during initial climb from the Elko Regional Airport (EKO), Elko, Nevada. The airline transport pilot, two medical crewmembers, and the patient sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated as an instrument flight rules (IFR) air transport medical flight by American Med Flight, Inc., (AMF) under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed but had not been activated for the intended flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, a witness located at EKO reported that the airplane departed runway 05. He stated that during the initial climb, the airplane made a left turn of about 30° from the runway heading, then stopped climbing, made an abrupt left bank, and descended out of his line of sight. The airplane impacted a parking lot and erupted into flames. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were no radio calls received from the pilot, and no radar data were available for the flight. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONA review of the airmen records maintained by the FAA indicated that the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine and multi-engine land airplanes and a type rating for a CE-500. His most recent first-class medical cer
Probable cause
A loss of engine power to the left engine for reasons that could not be determined due to the extensive fire and impact damage to the airplane.
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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.
