# Accident 20180219002899A: Piper PA-34-200T, Minden, NV, February 19, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 19, 2018, 11:30 local time
- Place: Minden, NV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0497° N, 119.7942° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0497&lon=-119.7942&mi=10
- Aircraft: N14GQ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14GQ-2019-11-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-34-200T (registry code 7103406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total, 15 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180219002899A

## Narrative

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

IIC ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ARRIVED AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND NOTED N14GQ HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND INVERTED. THE NOSE, LEFT WING OUTBOARD OF THE ENGINE, AND COMPLETE EMPENNAGE WERE NOT AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE.  THE VISIBLE PORTION OF THE LEFT PROPELLER SHOWED NO DAMAGE. THE RIGHT PROPELLER WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY LOCATED. THE LEFT WING HAD SEPARATED OUTBOARD OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTROL CABLES WERE INTACT TO THE BELL CRANK, WHICH HAD PULLED OUT OF THE STRUCTURE. THE COMPLETE EMPENNAGE WAS MISSING AND THE CONTROL CABLES WERE BROOM STRAWED. THE RIGHT WING HAD SEPARATED OUTBOARD OF THE ENGINE BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE BY THE CONTROL CABLES. A PIPER AIRCRAFT REPRESENTATIVE WAS PRESENT AND VERIFIED CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE FILTER CUPS FOR BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL VALVES SHOWED BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT VALVES WERE FUNCTIONALLY CORRECTLY AND IN THE CORRECT POSITION. THE RIGHT PROPELLER WAS LOCATED IN A SAGEBRUSH BUSH WITH THE VISIBLE PORTION SHOWING NO DAMAGE. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT PROPELLER BLADES THAT WERE BURIED SHOWED ROTATIONAL DAMAGE.

## 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 WPR18FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA091), Feb 19, 2018: Piper PA34 (N14GQ), Minden, NV, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from the use of a…

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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