- Date
- October 1, 1993, 18:30 local (Oct 2, 1993, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fallon, NV
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4266VCessna 170
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931001037369A
- Case key
- 28564
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
was the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate approach path to the runway and his inadequate altitude. Contributing factors were the pilot's delayed remedial action and his lack of recent experience in the airplane.
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 he had just purchased the airplane, and the accident occurred during his familiarization flight. The pilot took off and, along with the previous owner, flew to a local practice area. The previous owner demonstrated airwork and then demonstrated a takeoff and a landing. According to the pilot, he then attempted to land the airplane. During his first approach, he 'waved off.' The pilot further reported that during his second approach he was low. The pilot added full engine power, and the airplane's main landing gear collided with the airport's perimeter fence short of the runway. The pilot had not flown any airplane during the previous 90 days. Also, he had no previous piloting experience in the accident make and model airplane.
Factual narrative
On October 1, 1993, at 1830 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170, N4266V, operated by the pilot, collided with the airport's perimeter fence on short final approach to runway 31 at the Fallon Municipal Airport, Fallon, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot was not injured. The passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Fallon at 1750.
The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane, and the purpose of the flight was for his familiarization. The pilot reported that he took off and flew to a local practice area with the seller of the airplane on board. The seller demonstrated airwork, and then demonstrated a takeoff and a landing. The pilot further reported he then made an approach to runway 31, "waved off," and attempted another landing.
Regarding the attempted landing, the pilot made the following statement in his completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1: "When I realized I was landing short...I added full power to make a go-around. The main landing gear caught the perimeter fence and the aircraft came to rest on its right side."
The pilot indicated that he had not flown any airplane during the 90 days which preceded the accident. Also, his total piloting experience in the accident airplane's make and model was zero hours.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4266V
- Reported as
- Cessna 170
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18624
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Joel R. Henderson
- Registered owner
- Leroy E. Warden
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1993 · 1 hours before
- Airport
- FLX · Fallon Municipal, runway 31, 3,650 × 75 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
- 54
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total · 900 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.