# Accident 20110902022469A: Piper PA-28-180, Gerlach, NV, September 2, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2011, 18:36 local time
- Place: Gerlach, NV
- Airport: Black Rock City Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5864° N, 119.5967° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5864&lon=-119.5967&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7303W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7303W-2013-05-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 301 total, 68 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11CA425](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA425) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110902022469A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON SMOKE CREEK DRY LAKE BED, 20 MILES EAST OF GERLACK, NV ON WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOLID SURFACE, WAS ACTUALLY 8 INCHES OF SOFT SURFACE, SUNK IN AND CART WHEELED DURING LANDING.

## 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 WPR11CA425](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA425), Sep 3, 2011: Piper PA-28-180 (N7303W), Gerlach, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to land at an unknown off-airport location.

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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