Piper PA 18-135 N9977Q

Summary

On 21 July 1991 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA 18-135 registered N9977Q, operated by Gregory Powning, was involved in an accident near Gerlach, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 1991 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gerlach, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

40.8598, -119.3197

Aircraft

Piper PA 18-135

Registration

N9977Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gregory Powning

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reno → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA321

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE BY THE SELECTION OF AN INAPPROPRIATE CRUISE ALTITUDE RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

IN BOTH HIS WRITTEN AND VERBAL STATEMENTS THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A 'DOWNDRAFT' WHILE FLYING NEAR GERLACH, NEVADA. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED JUST AS THE AIRCRAFT OVERFLEW A SMALL RIDGE AT LOW ALTITUDE AND HE COULD NOT ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND IN THE VALLEY BEYOND. IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT SAID THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CLOSEST WEATHER REPORTING STATION WAS REPORTING WINDS OF LESS THAN FIVE KNOTS. THE PILOT DID NOT INDICATE THAT HIGH WINDS OR OTHER UNUSUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.