# Accident 20161118018589A: Piper PA-31T, Elko, NV, November 18, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 18, 2016, 19:20 local time
- Place: Elko, NV
- Airport: Elko Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: XPCA
- Location: 40.8339° N, 115.7831° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8339&lon=-115.7831&mi=10
- Aircraft: N779MF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N779MF-2017-06-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31T (registry code 7103124, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A (registry code 52043, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 7,050 total, 450 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161118018589A

## Narrative

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

DURING THE DEPARTURE FROM ELKO AIRPORT, RUNWAY 6, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SHARP LEFT SPIRALING DESCENDING TURN CONTACTING A PARKED PICKUP TRUCK WITH THE LEFT WING, LEFT SIDE OF THE NOSE SECTION AND LEFT ENGINE.

THE LEFT ENGINE WAS DETACHED FROM THE WING AND LAYING IN THE BACK OF THE PICKUP.

THE LEFT WING WAS PUSHED BACK AND SLIGHTLY AWAY FROM THE FUSELAGE WITH THE LEFT FLAP STILL ATTACHED; THE LEFT AILERON WAS DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTING POINTS AND FOUND APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN FRONT AND TO THE LEFT OF THE WING.

THE LEFT PROPELLER HUB REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE, TWO OF THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE MELTED FROM THE POST IMPACT FIRE, AND THE THIRD BLADE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE HUB, LOCATED  APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET IN FRONT AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWING NO ROTATIONAL DAMAGE.

THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS BENT IN AN UPWARD AND INBOARD DIRECTION.

THE RIGHT PROPELLER CONTACTED THE GROUND AND SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE.  ONE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE PROPELLER HUB ALL THREE BLADES HAVE SIGNS OF ROTATIONAL DAMAGE.

THE RIGHT WING WAS ALIGNED WITH THE FUSELAGE IN A NORMAL POSITION FLAP AND AILERON STILL ATTACHED.

THE FUSELAGE WAS MOSTLY CONSUMED BY THE POST IMPACT FIRE.

## 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 WPR17FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA024), Nov 19, 2016: Piper PA 31T (N779MF), Elko, NV, destroyed, 4 fatal. 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.

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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