# NTSB WPR10CA124: Piper PA-28-235, N9083W, Crystal, NV, January 30, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 30, 2010, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Crystal, NV - Coordinates: 36.302776, -116.008331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3028&lon=-116.0083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75322 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75322/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75322 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a ground vehicle during a low-altitude maneuver. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was returning to his home airport and was descending for landing when he saw his friend's car on the dirt road below him. He decided to make a 180-degree turn, and rolled out facing the car. The pilot stated that it looked like he was going to be low so he started a recovery from the descent. The closure rate was too fast and the left main landing gear of the airplane struck the vehicle. The pilot reported that he continued the climb to about 200 feet and made another turn to check on his friend. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing on the road. During the landing roll, the left wing contacted the top of the berm next to the road. During the collision with the vehicle, the left main landing gear had been sheared off and the driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was returning to his home airport and descending for landing, when he saw his friends' car on the dirt road below him. He decided to make a 180-degree turn, and rolled out facing the car. The pilot stated that it looked like he was going to be low so he started a recovery from the descent. The closure rate was too fast and the left main landing gear of the airplane struck the vehicle. The pilot reported that he continued the climb to about 200 feet and made another turn to check on his friend. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing on the road. During the landing roll, the left wing contacted the top of the berm next to the road. During the collision with the vehicle, the left main landing gear had been sheared off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9083W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9083W-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 28-10686, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10686 - Airframe hours: 2563 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Earl R. Griffin - Registered owner: Earl R. Griffin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2009, 49 hours before - Departed: BTY, Beatty, NV - Destination: Crystal, NV - Airport: Crystal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,954 total, 1,514 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: VGT, 30 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 20100130026669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100130026669A), Jan 30, 2010: Piper PA-28-235, Crystal, NV, Substantial damage. On 01/30/2010 at approximately 1300 hours in the vicinity of in Crystal, Nevada, an airborne aircraft piloted by earl robert griffin, struck a vehicle which… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75322. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 376 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Accident Vehicle (Nye County SO) (item 2, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Accident%20Vehicle%20(Nye%20County%20SO)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Left Side of Airplane (Nye County SO) (item 3, .PDF, 578 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326134&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20Side%20of%20Airplane%20(Nye%20County%20SO)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Left View of Airplane (Nye County SO) (item 4, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326135&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Left%20View%20of%20Airplane%20(Nye%20County%20SO)-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.