What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On November 27, 2002, at 1040 pacific standard time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N224BD, collided with ground obstacles short of the runway following a loss of engine power on approach to the Elko, Nevada, airport. The on-demand air taxi flight was operated by reno flying service, inc., under 14 CFR part 135 as a non-scheduled domestic cargo flight. The commercial pilot and one pilot passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at reno, about 0930. The pilot reported a near simultaneous engine failure on a 1/4-mile approach to runway 5 and landed short in sagebrush. A post accident examination by the federal aviation administration and operator personnel failed to find fuel in the 4-tank system. (-23) on approach to runway 5 at Elko airport, both engines lost power. Attempts to restart the engines were unsuccessful. The pilot decided to land the aircraft off airport as he could see he would not be able to make the runway. Further investigation revealed no fuel in either wing fuel tank. The fuel tanks were not damaged in the landing.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON NOVEMBER 27, 2002, AT 1040 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-34-220T, N224BD, COLLIDED WITH GROUND OBSTACLES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON APPROACH TO THE ELKO, NEVADA, AIRPORT. THE ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY RENO FLYING SERVICE, INC., UNDER 14 CFR PART 135 AS A NON-SCHEDULED DOMESTIC CARGO FLIGHT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND ONE PILOT PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT RENO, ABOUT 0930. THE PILOT REPORTED A NEAR SIMULTANEOUS ENGINE FAILURE ON A 1/4-MILE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 5 AND LANDED SHORT IN SAGEBRUSH. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATOR PERSONNEL FAILED TO FIND FUEL IN THE 4-TANK SYSTEM. (-23) ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 5 AT ELKO AIRPORT, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT OFF AIRPORT AS HE COULD SEE HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN EITHER WING FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT DAMAGED IN THE LANDING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.