- Date
- March 20, 2002, 12:38 local (20:38 UTC)
- Place
- Denio, NV
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7837WPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Status
- Completed · report May 13, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20020320003789A
- Case key
- 54373
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind condition. Wind gust is a contributing factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that due to soft/sandy runway conditions, he was performing a soft-field takeoff procedure. Prior to boarding the airplane, he walked the runway to evaluate the surface condition, and determined that the wind was favoring a takeoff on runway 7. He reported the wind from 080 degrees at 15 knots, gusts to 20 knots. During the takeoff roll, as the airplane neared lift-off at minimum flying speed, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to veer to the right edge of the runway. He elected to abort the takeoff, and the airplane crossed a ditch and came to rest. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On March 20, 2002, at 1238 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7837W, veered off the runway during takeoff and came to rest off the runway at Denio Junction Airport, Denio, Nevada. The private certificated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight, operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91, was destined for Reno/Stead airport, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot told the Safety Board investigator that, due to soft/sandy runway conditions, he was performing a soft-field takeoff procedure. Prior to boarding the airplane he walked the runway to assess the surface condition, and determined that the surface wind was favoring a takeoff on runway 7 (3,100 x 150, dirt). Wind conditions were gusty and variable. During the takeoff roll, as the airplane neared liftoff at minimum flying speed, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to veer to the right edge of the runway. He elected to abort the takeoff and the airplane crossed a ditch and came to rest.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7837W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Airframe hours
- 3,446
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William Burnett
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 23, 2002 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- E85 · Denio, NV
- Destination
- 4SD · Reno, NV
- Airport
- E85 · Denio Junction Airport, runway 07, 3,100 × 150 ft, dirt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 93 in this make and model · 11 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC)
- Wind
- 80° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
- Observed at
- WMC
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 435 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.