Pvt Ranch Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Austin, Nevada 89310
Sunday, March 15, 1992 16:37 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID THAT ON SHORT FINAL TO THE AIRSTRIP HE ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR AND DOWNDRAFT. HE ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND AND THE PLASTIC CONTROL WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE BROKE INTO TWO SECTIONS AT THE MIDDLE. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND HARD AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER HIS CONTROL WHEEL BROKE, HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT BY GRABBING THE WHEEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PLASTIC CONTROL WHEELS IN THIS AIRCRAFT ARE THE SUBJECT OF A REOCCURRING AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (69-22-2), WHICH REQUIRES REPETITIVE DYE PENETRANT INSPECTIONS AT EACH ANNAUL INSPECTION FOR CRACKS IN THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL. THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT THE CONTROL WHEEL WAS INSPECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AD AT THE LAST ANNUAL. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE FACE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF DYE PENETRANT, INDICATING THAT THE CRACK DID NOT EXIST AT THE LAST INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF HIS CONTROL WHEEL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO AROUND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/15/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1637
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City AUSTIN
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89310
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PVT RANCH AIRSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 6800
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 130
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46074
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4075R
NTSB Number LAX92LA150
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-40387
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 12 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 397
Airframe Hours 3983
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR BORN AGAIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1700 RICE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FALLON
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89406
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GALEN M. REIMER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1621 TAMARA
Operator City FALLON
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89406
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FLX
Departure City FALLON
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --