- Date
- July 16, 1994, 13:07 local (20:07 UTC)
- Place
- Elko, NV
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6785WPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 5, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940716018629A
- Case key
- 28800
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 pilots attempted takeoff with a strong and gusty tailwind.
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 pilots attempted a takeoff from runway 23, which is 7,211 feet in length. Both pilots stated that they encountered a downdraft about 200 feet above ground. The aircraft descended and collided with a fence. The winds were from 340 degrees at 18 knots with gusts to 54 knots. There were no reported mechanical problems.
Factual narrative
On July 16, 1994, at 1307 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6785W, collided with a fence after an in-flight loss of control during takeoff from runway 23 at the Elko Municipal Airport, Elko, Nevada. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight by the second pilot/co-owner when the accident occurred. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the two pilots were not injured. The flight was destined for Grants Pass, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
Both pilots reported encountering a downdraft at 200 feet above the ground after takeoff. The airplane descended and collided with the fence off the end of the runway.
The winds at the airport were reported to be from 350 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 54 knots at the time of the accident. Runway 23 is 7,211 feet in length and 150 feet wide.
Neither the pilot nor student pilot submitted an aircraft accident report. The pilot surrendered his pilot certificate to the Federal Aviation Administration in Reno, Nevada, on January 23, 1995.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6785W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-20915
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dietz, Craig S.
- Registered owner
- Jerry L. Pennington
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- 3S8 · Grants Pass, OR
- Airport
- EKO · Elko Municipal, runway 23, 7,211 × 150 ft, asphalt
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 2, Expired
- Flight hours
- 710 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 18 knots, gusting 54
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EKO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.