G Elwin Halvorsen PA18WB/L21-180 N45EH

Summary

On 30 May 2016 at about 19:30 local time, a G Elwin Halvorsen PA18WB/L21-180 registered N45EH 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

30 May 2016 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gerlach, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Black Rock City (88NV)

Coordinates

40.7572, -119.2128

Aircraft

G Elwin Halvorsen PA18WB/L21-180

Registration

N45EH

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reno → Gerlach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA282

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in a nose over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, prior to landing on a dry lake bed, he made one low pass to assess the area where he intended to land. He reported that upon touch down, the wheels broke through the hard layer of the landing surface and there was mud underneath. The main landing gear wheels dug into the mud and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions during the flight with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.