# Accident 20160530017879A: G Elwin Halvorsen PA18WB/L21-180, Gerlach, NV, May 30, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 30, 2016, 11:50 local time
- Place: Gerlach, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.7572° N, 119.2128° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7572&lon=-119.2128&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45EH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45EH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: G Elwin Halvorsen PA18WB/L21-180 (registry code 056328O, https://openairdocs.org/model/g-elwin-halvorsen-pa18wb-l21-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-C2A (registry code 42285, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: G ELWIN HALVORSEN PA18WB/L21-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-C2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 263 total, 118 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA282) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160530017879A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED RENO AT ABOUT 10:35AM FOR THE BLACK ROCK DESERT.  THE PILOT PERFORMED ONE SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON THE PLAYA  AND THEN TOOKOFF AND FLEW TO THE BLACK ROCK HOT SPRINGS. AFTER MAKING A PASS TO ASSESS THE LANDING SPOT THE PILOT MADE THE FINAL APPROACH AND TOUCH DOWN AT THE HOT SPRINGS.  DURING ROLLOUT, THE WHEELS BROKE THROUGH THE PLAYA CRUST INTO MUD BENEATH.  THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND ONTO ITS BACK.    WITH HELP FROM NEARBY CAMPERS,  THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED UPRIGHT.  AFTER A FIELD EVALUATION AND REPAIR, THE PILOT DEPARTED THE BLACK ROCK AREA THE FOLLOWING MORNING ON HIS SOLO FLIGHT BACK TO RENO, NEVADA.

## 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 GAA16CA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA282), May 30, 2016: G Elwin Halvorsen PA18WB/L21-180 (N45EH), Gerlach, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in a nose over.

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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