Piper PA-32R-301 N8139A

Summary

On 1 November 2000 at about 01:46 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301 registered N8139A was involved in an accident near Dayton Valley, 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

1 November 2000 at 01:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Dayton Valley, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)

Coordinates

39.2595, -119.4796

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301

Registration

N8139A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Redding → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX01LA030

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to attain a proper glide path during the final approach resulting in an undershoot of the runway. Factors were the lack of runway lights and night lighting condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While attempting to land, the airplane collided with desert brush short of the runway shearing off the nose landing gear, damaging both wings, and twisting the fuselage. Arrival at the airport was after sunset. The airport does not have runway lights available for night flights. The pilot indicated that he oriented himself to the runway utilizing the surrounding ground lighting and lights from the company's open hangar. On final approach during the first landing, the pilot initiated a go-around because he was not set up properly and did not like the visual reference of the approach. On the second approach he lined up with what he believed was the centerline of the runway. He looked down to verify that the landing gear extended lights were illuminated. When he looked back outside, his vision was obscured. Another go-around was initiated; however, the airplane touched down. The pilot heard a loud noise and then saw the desert brush. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Official sunset was at 1703.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.