# NTSB WPR11CA425: Piper PA-28-180, N7303W, Gerlach, NV, September 3, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2011, 18:00 local (Sep 3, 2011, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Gerlach, NV
- Coordinates: 40.586387, -119.596664 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5864&lon=-119.5967&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81685
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA425
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81685/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81685
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA425

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land at an unknown off-airport location.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was flying the airplane over a large open desert playa. He decided to land after flying low over the surface to determine if he could make a safe landing. The surface appeared to be flat and dry. Upon touching down, the landing gear dug into the about 8-inch deep soft tufa. The airplane cartwheeled, resulting in separation of the left wing and bending and wrinkling the left horizontal stabilizer. The left side of the fuselage, the engine mount, and the firewall were also bent and wrinkled.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was flying the airplane over a large open desert playa. He decided to land after flying low over the surface to determine if he could make a safe landing. The surface appeared to be flat and dry. Upon touching down, the landing gear dug into the about 8-inch deep soft tufa. The airplane cartwheeled resulting in separation of the left wing and bending and wrinkling the left horizontal stabilizer. The left side of the fuselage, the engine mount, and the firewall were also bent and wrinkled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7303W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7303W-2013-05-10), registration cancelled 2013-05-10, S/N 28-1159, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-1159
- Airframe hours: 4270
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark W. Switzer
- Registered owner: Mark W. Switzer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2011
- Departed: SVE, Susanville, CA
- Destination: 88NV, Gerlach, NV
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 302 total, 68 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: RNO, 65 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 20110902022469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110902022469A), Sep 2, 2011: Piper PA-28-180, Gerlach, NV, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to land on smoke creek dry lake bed, 20 miles east of gerlack, NV on what appeared to be solid surface, was actually 8 inches of soft surface,…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81685. 585 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.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.

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