# NTSB LAX04LA151: Piper PA-28-180, N6367J, Reno, NV, March 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 2004, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.667221, -119.876113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6672&lon=-119.8761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58880/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA151 ## Probable cause the pilot's premature flare and failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulted in an inadvertent stall and a hard landing, which collapsed the landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The airplane experienced a hard landing. The pilot configured the airplane with a high angle of attack and was flying at a slow airspeed. While over the runway designation markings, the stall warning light flashed. About 50 to 60 feet above ground level, the airplane stalled, and the nose gear contacted the runway surface, with the main landing gear following immediately thereafter. The airplane was about 10 to 15 degrees in a nose down attitude when it contacted the runway. The nose wheel broke off immediately after contact, and the airplane skid on its nose a short distance down the runway. The damage to the airplane was consistent to that of a hard landing. After inspecting the landing gear, investigators found no evidence of abnormalities or mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 2004, about 1200 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N6367J, made a hard landing at Reno/Stead Airport (4SD), Reno, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Yerington Municipal Airport (O43), Yerington, Nevada, about 1120, with the planned destination of 4SD. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that she was attempting to land on runway 26. While over the runway designation markings, with the airspeed 76 miles per hour, the stall warning light flashed. During touchdown, the main landing gear made contact with the runway, and the right side of the airplane sank. The pilot held the nose wheel off the runway by pulling back on the yoke, but the airplane continued to pull down to the right. The nose wheel made contact with the runway, and the airplane pulled hard to the right. The airplane sank lower and the nose wheel departed from the airplane. The pilot tried to input both brake and rudder controls, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane slid down the runway. In a written statement, a witness, who was located about 250 feet off the approach end of the runway, reported that he saw the airplane on final approach. The airplane was configured with a very high angle of attack and was flying at a slow airspeed. About 50 to 60 feet above ground level, the airplane stalled, and the nose gear contacted the runway surface first, with the main landing gear following immediately thereafter. The airplane was about 10 to 15 degrees in a nose down attitude when it contacted the runway. The nose wheel broke off immediately after contact, and the airplane skidded on its nose a short distance down the runway. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the pilot and passenger reported to him, that during landing, the touchdown was normal. The ground scar on the runway showed that the airplane slid about 220 feet down the runway after the initial impact. The airplane damage included severe wrinkling of the skin on both wings and underside of the fuselage. The inspector thought that the airplane damage was consistent to that of a hard landing. After inspecting the landing gear, he found no evidence of abnormalities or mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6367J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6367J-2007-03-22), registration cancelled 2007-03-22, S/N 28-4779, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4779 - Airframe hours: 6071 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Diana Croyle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2003, 39 hours before - Departed: O43, Yerington, NV - Destination: 4SD, Reno, NV - Airport: 4SD, Reno/Stead Airport, runway 26, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 173 total, 35 in this make and model, 81 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 11 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 20040306003769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040306003769A), Mar 6, 2004: Piper PA28180, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight departed Stead, Nevada to yerington, Nevada and returned to Stead, Nevada. During the approach for landing at 4SD, a witness observed the… ## Other investigations on N6367J (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 MKC75DCQ25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75DCQ25), Nov 27, 1974: Piper PA-28 (N6367J), St Francis, KS, 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.