# NTSB WPR17LA062: Aviat A-1C-200, N382US, Jiggs, NV, January 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 2017, 16:45 local (Jan 28, 2017, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Jiggs, NV - Coordinates: 40.705276, -115.610275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7053&lon=-115.6103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 94699 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94699/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94699 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA062 ## Probable cause An engine anomaly for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a precautionary landing in deep snow and a subsequent noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, about 10 minutes after departing for a personal, local flight and when the airplane was about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine began running roughly, and the rpm surged several times despite the engine monitoring gauges all indicating normal operation. The pilot chose to make a precautionary landing on a snow-covered dirt airstrip. The pilot reported that, after reducing power to land, he did not recall the engine experiencing further roughness or surging. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over in the deep snow and then came to rest inverted. During postaccident test runs, the engine ran normally through various power settings with no anomalies noted that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the engine momentarily running roughly and surging could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 2017, about 1645 Pacific standard time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc. A-1C, N382US, was substantially damaged when it nosed over in the snow during a precautionary landing at an airstrip near Jiggs, Nevada. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to Canyon State Aviation LLC., and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight which originated from Elko Regional Airport (EKO), Elko, Nevada, around 1630. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to overfly the vicinity of his ranch and look for horse tracks. About 10 minutes after departure, with the airplane at an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine began to run rough and the rpm surged several times. The cockpit gauges and engine monitoring device all indicated normal ranges, with no anomalies. The pilot opted to make a precautionary landing and observed he was about 2 miles from the snow-covered dirt airstrip on Corta Ranch, which his family owns and where he frequently lands during the summer months. The pilot reported that after reducing power to land, he did not recall the engine experiencing further roughness or surging. He touched down about five minutes later and during the landing roll, the airplane nosed over in the snow coming to rest inverted. He estimated the snow was between 24 to 30 inches deep. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the struts and wings as a result of the impact. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector spoke with maintenance personnel at Aviat that examined the engine after the accident. The mechanic stated that he ran the engine and no anomalies could be found. The engine operated normally through various power settings without incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N382US](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N382US), registered now, S/N 3082 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-200 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1C-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-200) (registry code 2210411) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3082 - Year built: 2010 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2016 - Departed: EKO, ELKO, NV - Destination: EKO, ELKO, NV - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,165 total, 850 in this make and model, 6,886 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.68 inHg - Observed at: KEKO, 11 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 20170127000979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170127000979A), Jan 27, 2017: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-200, Jiggs, NV, Substantial damage. When looking for missing horses in rural Nevada, the pilot stated the engine surged several times. The pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing on a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94699. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Records of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Records%20of%20Conversation-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.