# Accident 19910721029119A: Piper PA18135, Gerlach, NV, July 21, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 1991, 10:00 local time
- Place: Gerlach, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8598° N, 119.3197° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8598&lon=-119.3197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9977Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9977Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-135 (registry code 7101820, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18135
- Reported engine: LYC O320A1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 775 total, 500 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX91LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA321) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910721029119A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLYING BELOW RIDGE REPORTED STRONG DOWNDRAFT CAUSED A COLLISION WITH GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX91LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA321), Jul 21, 1991: Piper PA 18-135 (N9977Q), Gerlach, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE BY THE SELECTION OF AN INAPPROPRIATE CRUISE ALTITUDE RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

## Other reports on N9977Q (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19900323005359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900323005359A), Mar 23, 1990: Piper PA18150 (N9977Q), Reno, NV, Substantial damage. Swerved off runway on landing roll and nosed over in soft sand.
- [Incident 19891222061029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891222061029I), Dec 22, 1989: Piper PA18135 (N9977Q), Reno, NV, Minor damage. Hit a fence while taxiing to runway. Pilot stated was looking down at radio.
- [Incident 19871027073569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871027073569I), Oct 27, 1987: Piper PA18135 (N9977Q), Dayville, OR, Minor damage. Partial power loss. Landed on a highway. Went into a ditch. Nosed up. Power reduction caused by carburetor ice.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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