# NTSB LAX91FA342: Piper PA 28-180, N5277L, Reno, NV, August 3, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 1991, 20:33 local (Aug 3, 1991, 03:33 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.479347, -119.740974 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4793&lon=-119.7410&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 27019 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91FA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27019/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA342 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED BY EMPLOYING AN EXCESSIVE ANGLE OF ATTACK DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB DURING A GO-AROUND RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL AND SUBSEQUENT INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S POOR APPROACH PLANNING, COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - weather condition - high density altitude - compensation for wind conditions - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command - weather condition - tailwind - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - go-around - selected, pilot in command - weather condition - crosswind - airspeed - improper, pilot in command (cause) - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis A PIPER PA 28-180 COLLIDED WITH PORTABLE BUILDINGS ON THE AIRPORT AFTER AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING PROBLEMS RECEIVING RADIO TRANSMISSIONS. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER CLEARED THE PILOT TO LAND ON THE RWY MOST INTO THE WIND. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED PAST THE ACTIVE RWY AND APPROACHED A PERPENDICULAR RWY RESULTING IN A QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE OVERSHOT THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE OF THE PERPENDICULAR RWY AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE NOT GAINING ALTITUDE AND AT A SLOW AIRSPEED. THE WITNESSES ALSO INDICATED THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE APPEARED NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE THEN TURNED RIGHT, INTO A QUARTERING HEADWIND, STALLED, AND DESCENDED VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND. THE WIND VELOCITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 13 KTS. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE ABOUT 7,500 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE PIPER PA 28-180, THE AIRPLANE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF A 375 FOOT PER MINUTE RATE OF CLIMB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5277L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5277L-1992-01-13), registration cancelled 1992-01-13, S/N 284576 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4576 - Airframe hours: 251 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Squadron 2 - Registered owner: Niemann, David L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, February 1, 1991, 4,695 hours before - Departed: OAK, OAKLAND, CA - Airport: RNO, Reno, runway 16, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 450 total, 145 in this make and model, 369 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 1 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 19910802031539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910802031539A), Aug 2, 1991: Piper PA28180, Reno, NV, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Passed up runway given by ATC. Landed downwind on 16. Stalled nose high go around in high density altitude. ## Other investigations on N5277L (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 FTW69D0376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69D0376), Jan 26, 1969: Piper PA-28 (N5277L), Crosbyton, TX, 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.