Piper PA-28-235 N9083W

Summary

On 30 January 2010 at about 21:10 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N9083W, operated by Earl R. Griffin, was involved in an accident near Crystal, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 January 2010 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Crystal, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Crystal

Coordinates

36.3028, -116.0083

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N9083W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Earl R. Griffin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beatty → Crystal

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA124

Injuries not recorded.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a ground vehicle during a low-altitude maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.