# NTSB LAX97LA333: Mikoyan MiG MIG 15UTI, N271JM, Fallon, NV, November 6, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 1996, 12:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Fallon, NV - Coordinates: 39.499305, -118.289352 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4993&lon=-118.2894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29909/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA333 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged his altitude and airspeed. A related factor was his diverted attention. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane touched down hard in a soft dirt field, 200 feet short of the threshold, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot said that during the precautionary landing to purchase fuel, he was distracted looking for another airplane in the traffic pattern and he also had some difficulty operating a hand-held radio. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 1996, at 1114 hours Pacific standard time, a Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 15UTI, N271JM, landed hard in a soft dirt field short of runway 3 at the Fallon, Nevada, airport. Following touchdown in the field, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid onto the runway. The aircraft, owned by Evergreen Ventures, Inc., sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the positioning flight that departed Page, Arizona, as a nonstop flight to the Reno/Stead airport, Reno, Nevada. A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed with the company. The pilot previously reported this as minor damage. Further investigation by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors from the Reno Flight Standards District Office determined that the aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the accident was reported to the Safety Board on March 16, 1998. The pilot reported that he was to position the aircraft from Pinal, Arizona, to Portland, Oregon. Before departure from Pinal, it was found that the VHF radio was inoperative and a hand-held radio had to be "rigged" for communications. A radio check was completed and the first leg of the flight to Page was completed without further incident. The second leg of the flight from Page to Reno was 459 nautical miles, and the pilot determined that there would be enough fuel onboard to complete the flight without any difficulty. The pilot reported that the fuel system on the Mig 15 does not indicate fuel remaining until approximately 640 liters remain in the main tank. He stated that the winds aloft had been stronger than expected and the fuel gage began to indicate a decrease in the main fuel tank. He timed the consumption rate and determined that it was higher than expected and decided to make a precautionary landing at the Fallon, Nevada, airport to refuel. The pilot reported that while monitoring CTAF he heard a Cessna broadcast his departure. When the Cessna was on downwind, he advised the Cessna of his intentions and requested to land in front of the Cessna. He stated that the pilot of the Cessna agreed to his request, and he set up his base leg with all prelanding checks completed. This included gear and flaps down and extension of airbrakes. The pilot stated that he rolled out on final at 150 knots and started to add power. The Cessna reported his position to the pilot. After locating the Cessna, the pilot reported that he spent "some time groping for the transmit switch on the hand-held radio . . ." to inform the other pilot that he had him insight. The pilot reported that he checked his airspeed indicator, which had dropped to 120 knots. He applied the throttle and waited for the engine to respond. The airspeed decreased to 110 knots and the engine had not responded yet. He stated that the aircraft was approaching a nose high attitude when it contacted the ground approximately 200 feet short of the threshold. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on the runway. The pilot stated that he was distracted looking for the other aircraft and operating the portable radio. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N271JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N271JM), registered now, S/N 242271 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mikoyan MiG MIG 15UTI - Registry model: [Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 15UTI](https://openairdocs.org/model/mikoyan-gurevich-mig-15uti) (registry code 056129C) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Klimov VK-1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/klimov-vk-1a) (registry code 37600, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: IA242271 - Airframe hours: 2845 - Engines: Klimov RD-450 5500 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Evergreen Ventures Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 1996, 2 hours before - Departed: PGA, PAGE, AZ - Destination: 4SD, RENO, NV - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: FLX, Fallon Municipal, runway 3, 5,703 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 25,000 total, 8 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: NFL, 5 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 19961106038789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961106038789A), Nov 6, 1996: Amtrmi MIG15UTI, Fallon, NV, Substantial damage. Excessive fuel burn. Elected land flx. Landed in soft dirt and collapsed the nose gear.(.4) on November 6, 1996, at 1114 hours pacific standard time, a mikoyan… 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.