# NTSB LAX99LA010: Piper PA-28, N5078W, Carson City, NV, October 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 1998, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.209121, -119.710594 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2091&lon=-119.7106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44170/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA010 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify the wind direction and speed, his selection of the wrong runway for the existing wind conditions, and, his inadequate compensation for those wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - tailwind - wind information - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload - landing gear,main gear - separation ## Analysis The pilot departed El Monte, California, to attend a convention in Reno, Nevada, but planned to park the aircraft in Carson City, Nevada. After an intermediate stop in Bishop, California, the flight arrived at Carson City. The pilot said UNICOM informed him that the winds were calm, and he elected to land on runway 27. He stated that he did not look at the windsock while in the pattern. The pilot stated he experienced some turbulence and crosswind on landing. The right main landing gear collapsed and separated from the aircraft. After departing the runway and crossing a drainage ditch, the airplane came to rest. A witness working in his office at the airport noticed the airplane in the traffic pattern and observed that the airplane would be landing with a quartering tailwind. He stated that local pilots are aware of a hill northeast of the airport that can disturb the air on the approach to this runway when the wind is from that direction. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 1998, at 1445 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28, N5078W, sustained substantial damage during landing at Carson City, Nevada. The commercial pilot and his wife were not injured. The aircraft was operated by ATC Corporation, Pasadena, California, under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The pilot obtained a weather briefing over the Internet. The aircraft departed from El Monte, California, and made an intermediate stop in Bishop, California. The pilot stated that UNICOM advised him the winds were calm and he elected to land on runway 27. He did not recall looking at a windsock. He stated he experienced some turbulence and crosswind at touchdown. The right main landing gear collapsed and separated from the aircraft and the right wing was bent after it contacted the ground. The aircraft departed the runway and crossed a drainage ditch before coming to rest. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration noted that both blades of the propeller were bent, the nose gear was buckled, and the right horizontal stabilizer was damaged. Additionally, the firewall and bottom of the fuselage were buckled. A man working in his office at the airport saw the airplane in the landing pattern and observed that the airplane was going to land with a quartering tailwind. He stated that a hill northeast of the airport is known by local pilots to disturb the air for this approach when the winds are from the northeast. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5078W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5078W-2017-06-20), registration cancelled 2017-06-20, S/N 28-87, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-87 - Airframe hours: 3565 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Atc Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 1998, 20 hours before - Departed: BIH, BISHOP, CA - Destination: CXP - Airport: CXP, Carson City, runway 27, 5,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,155 total, 1,155 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 19 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 19981012040279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981012040279A), Oct 12, 1998: Piper PA28*, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft landed runway 27, departed right side of runway. Right wing damaged, right main gear severed from aircraft, nose gear damaged, propeller bent… 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.