# NTSB LAX01LA206: Piper PA-20, N7783K, Winnemucca, NV, June 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2001, 22:15 local (Jun 9, 2001, 05:15 UTC) - Place: Winnemucca, NV - Coordinates: 40.896667, -117.805831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8967&lon=-117.8058&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Flt Standards Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52457/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA206 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain weather information or an in-flight advisory that would have described current wind information at the destination airport and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - wind information - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - wing - bent - remedial action - not successful - landing gear,main gear - collapsed ## Analysis After touchdown and under a crosswind condition, the airplane became partially airborne again over the runway (runway 32). The right wing struck the ground. The right main landing gear had also collapsed when the airplane "hit hard." The pilot lost directional control and the airplane swerved off the runway. Winds at the airport were reported by the ASOS (Automated Surface Observation Station) as 270 degrees at 13 knots. Peak wind speeds of 26 knots were also recorded. The Winnemucca weather station service records were obtained and did not indicate any operational downtime. The pilot reported a wind gust and the direction as calm on the Accident Report form 6120.1/2. He did not report that he had received an in-flight advisory or had observed the windsock before landing. A weather briefing was received by the pilot 7 hours 45 minutes prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2001, about 2215 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-20, N7783K, sustained substantial damage during a ground loop while landing at the Winnemucca, Nevada, airport. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot sustained no injuries. The cross-country night flight departed Mandril, Idaho, at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. According to the pilot's statements to the Safety Board investigator, he made a normal landing and was rolling out when a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The airplane became partially airborne and landed hard, collapsing the right main landing gear. Structural damage also resulted when the right wing was bent after it struck the ground. In his written report, the pilot stated that he had received a weather briefing 7 hours 45 minutes prior to the accident. Additionally, he reported a wind gust and the direction as calm at the Winnemucca Airport. He did not report having observed the windsock or having monitored the Winnemucca Automated Surface Observation System located on the field prior to the approach. The Winnemucca METAR reported the wind information; 270 degrees at 13 knots with peak winds at 280 degrees and 26 knots, respectively. The National Weather Service station record for Winnemucca was requested for June 08, 2001, and the information obtained did not indicate any maintenance or operation downtime. The record displayed only one entry in the service logs for the following day. The entry read that the staff had "dialed into the site and saved 12 hours of 5-minute data after receiving notification of an aircraft incident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7783K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7783K-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 20-610, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-610 - Airframe hours: 2160 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gregory S. McAdams - Registered owner: Wesly Harju - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2000, 34 hours before - Departed: S33, Madras, OR - Destination: WMC, WINNEMUCCA, NV - Airport: WMC, Winnemucca Muni, runway 32, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 356 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 270° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KWMC ## 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 20010608011129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010608011129A), Jun 8, 2001: Piper PA20, Winnemucca, NV, Substantial damage. (.19)On June 8, 2001, about 2215 hours pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-20, N7783K, sustained substantial damage during a ground loop while landing at the… ## Other investigations on N7783K (2) 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 DEN71FTE17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN71FTE17), Jun 24, 1971: Piper PA-20 (N7783K), Usaf Academy, CO, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK65X0193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0193), Oct 8, 1964: Piper PA20 (N7783K), Woods Cross, UT, substantial damage 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.