# NTSB WPR09LA401: Piper PA-28R-200, N32105, Gerlach, NV, August 9, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2009, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Gerlach, NV - Coordinates: 41.382499, -119.169723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3825&lon=-119.1697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA401 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74545/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74545 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA401 ## Probable cause The pilot’s delay in aborting the takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff on the hard dirt surface airstrip, the airplane did not reach 60 mph when he saw the end of the runway markers and he proceeded to shutdown the engine. To avoid a collision with a fence approximately 300 feet beyond the end of the runway, the pilot directed the airplane to the left, off the side of the runway into heavy vegetation. The fuselage, wing spars, and horizontal stabilator were substantially damaged during the excursion from the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage at the airstrip and measured track marks leading up to the wreckage. The inspector reported that the takeoff roll began abeam the windsock, located about 300 feet from the beginning of the airstrip. Before the midfield point, tire tracks veered to the right into the grass and then continued parallel with, and adjacent to, the runway surface. About 2,790 feet from the windsock and 1,041 feet from the end of the runway, the airplane collided with a set of white-painted tires off the runway edge. The track then continued back to the left across the runway, into heavy brush and rough terrain. The inspector measured a maximum runway length of 4,131 feet. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2009, about 0915 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N32105, collided with terrain during a rejected takeoff from Soldier Meadows Airport number 1 (NV06) near Gerlach, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The fuselage, wing spars, landing gear, and horizontal stabilator sustained substantial damage from impact forces with rocks. The cross-country personal flight was departing Gerlach with a planned destination of Sacramento, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that the airplane had not reached 60 miles per hour (mph) indicated airspeed on the takeoff roll when he saw the end of runway markers. He elected to abort the takeoff, and shut down the engine. To insure that he did not collide with a fence about 300 feet from the end of the runway, he directed the airplane off the left side of the runway. It went into heavy vegetation, rocks, and rough ground. The airplane came to a stop about 100 feet from the runway surface. The pilot calculated that he needed more than 2,500 feet nominally to complete the takeoff. Since the surface was hard dirt, he assumed a 20 percent margin. He determined that this left him more than 1,000 feet remaining if the runway length was as charted. The Klamath Falls sectional chart noted that the length of the longest runway was 4,000 feet. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at the accident site and measured track marks in low vegetation leading up to the wreckage. The inspector noted that the takeoff roll began abeam the windsock, which is about 300 feet from the beginning of the runway. The tire tracks veered to the right into the grass adjacent to the runway surface before the midfield point, and continued parallel to the runway. About 2,790 feet from the windsock, the left track passed within inches of the edge of a set of white-painted tires that were embedded upright in the dirt a few feet off the runway edge and approximately 1,041 feet from the end of the runway surface and fence line. The tops of the tires contained scuff marks. The tracks continued back to the left across the runway, and led to the wreckage. The inspector measured a maximum runway length of 4,131 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32105](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32105-2010-04-07), registration cancelled 2010-04-07, S/N 28R-7535025, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7535025 - Airframe hours: 3085 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William Colins, Jerry Walker, Kenneth Whitham - Registered owner: William Colins, Jerry Walker, Kenneth Whitham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2009, 31 hours before - Departed: NV06, Gerlach, NV - Destination: Unknown - Airport: NV06, Soldier Meadows Ranch, runway 18, 4,000 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 19, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 594 total, 323 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KWMC ## 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 20090809016939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090809016939A), Aug 9, 2009: Piper PA28R200, Gerlach, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 9, 2009, the pilot [privacy data omitted], a PA-28R-200, attempted a takeoff from soldier meadows (NV06). The aircraft was approximately 175… ## Other investigations on N32105 (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 ATL88LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA251), Sep 15, 1988: Piper PA-28R-200 (N32105), Gray, GA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74545. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Wreckage Diagram (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328197&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Wreckage%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Looking back ground track. (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328198&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Looking%20back%20ground%20track.%20-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Looking direction of ground track. (item 4, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Looking%20direction%20of%20ground%20track.%0D%0A%20-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Airplane at rest. (item 5, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Airplane%20at%20rest.-Master.PDF 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.