# NTSB GAA19CA281: Cessna 340, N5418M, Carvers, NV, May 3, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2019, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Carvers, NV - Coordinates: 38.966945, -117.182777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9669&lon=-117.1828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99490/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99490 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA281 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to accurately assess the available runway for the takeoff, which resulted in impact with a gravel berm. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 340, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that, while using a short-field takeoff technique on a private, dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered soft patches of dirt. He rotated the airplane to initiate a climb, but the airplane could not climb higher than ground effect, and the stall horn sounded. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but the landing gear impacted a gravel berm, which sheared off the landing gear. The airplane then skidded 150 ft and came to rest in a dirt field past the end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that, before takeoff, he determined that there was about 5,000 ft of usable runway; however, the runway was actually about 3,500 ft long. He added that he believed the airport elevation was about 5,000 ft mean sea level, and the density altitude was about 8,000 ft. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot's failure to accurately assess the available runway resulted in impact with a gravel berm during the attempted takeoff. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the multi-engine airplane reported that, while utilizing a short field takeoff technique on a private, dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered soft patches of dirt. He rotated the airplane to initiate a climb, but the airplane could not climb higher than ground effect and the stall horn sounded. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but the landing gear impacted the gravel berm, which sheared off the landing gear and the airplane came to rest in the dirt field. The pilot also reported that, before takeoff, he walked the airstrip and determined there was about 5,000 ft of usable runway and he estimated he needed 3,800 ft. The airport elevation was about 5, 000 feet and the density altitude was about 8,000 ft. After the accident, the pilot used Google Earth to measure the runway. According to Google Earth the runway length was about 3,500 ft. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 72°F. The airplane was departing to the south. The airport elevation was about 5,500 ft mean sea level (msl). The calculated density altitude was 7,400 ft. The calculated takeoff distance on a level, hard surface, dry runway was 2,240 ft and the takeoff distance over a 50 ft obstacle was 2,930 ft. The calculated maximum rate of climb was 1,400 ft/min. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5418M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5418M-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 340-0029, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 340 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340-0029 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 7198 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-N 310 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-N 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2019 - Departed: EUL, Caldwell, ID - Destination: N/A, Carvers, NV - Airport: N/A, Private Field, runway 17, 5,000 × 50 ft, dirt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 19,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 18,500 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KTMT, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20190503003859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190503003859A), May 3, 2019: Cessna 340, Carvers, NV, Substantial damage. Prior to departing from an unimproved, dirt private runway in rural Nevada, the pilot failed to appropriately evaluate the runway condition, length and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99490. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 561 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Phone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Airplane POH (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474242&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20POH-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.