20180111000659A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-23-250 · Ruby Valley, NV · January 11, 2018

Date: January 11, 2018 · 18:00 local
Place: Ruby Valley, NV
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N54857
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR18FA073
Reported as: Piper PA-23-250
Reported engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 291 total

N54857Registered now · Piper PA-23-250S/N 27-7554157 · Built 1975 Airframe modelPiper PA-23-250 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On January 11, 2018, about 1800 pacific standard time, a Piper PA-23-250 airplane, N54857, collided with mountainous terrain about 42 miles south of elko, Nevada. According to air traffic control (ATC), the pilot reported that he was encountering clouds and was asked by the controller if he would like information on nearby airports. The pilot asked for the nearest airport and that he would ?head over there.? Directions and information on elko regional airport (eko), elko, Nevada were provided to the pilot. He replied, ?alright, I?m getting super turbulent over here I?m going to head over there.? Shortly after, communication and radar contact were lost.

As the FAA filed it

ON JANUARY 11, 2018, ABOUT 1800 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-23-250 AIRPLANE, N54857, COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 42 MILES SOUTH OF ELKO, NEVADA. ACCORDING TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC), THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ENCOUNTERING CLOUDS AND WAS ASKED BY THE CONTROLLER IF HE WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON NEARBY AIRPORTS. THE PILOT ASKED FOR THE NEAREST AIRPORT AND THAT HE WOULD ?HEAD OVER THERE.? DIRECTIONS AND INFORMATION ON ELKO REGIONAL AIRPORT (EKO), ELKO, NEVADA WERE PROVIDED TO THE PILOT. HE REPLIED, ?ALRIGHT, I?M GETTING SUPER TURBULENT OVER HERE I?M GOING TO HEAD OVER THERE.? SHORTLY AFTER, COMMUNICATION AND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR18FA073Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportElko, NVThe pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning, which resulted in the flight over mountainous terrain into forecast instrument meteorological conditions, icing, and mountain wave, and resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain.Jan 12, 2018 · Destroyed

Other reports on N54857 · 3

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

Incident 20080318014569INormal Cruise · Richmond, VA(-23) Pilot made emergency landing at kric due to right engine failure in flight. Upon investigation, found the RH engine #3 cylinder separated from the crankcase. The crankcase was broken in several places around the perimeter of where the cylinder base…Mar 18, 2008 · Minor damage Incident 19860124008719ILevel Off Touchdown · Windsor Locks, CTPilot forgot to extend the landing gear.Jan 24, 1986 · Minor damage Accident 19791111039922ANormal Cruise · Stamford, CTUnaware of collision of overtaking company aircraft whose wing hit his right prop. Found prop damage when landed.Nov 11, 1979 · Minor damage