Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fernley, Nevada 89408
Sunday, May 5, 1991 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WITH ONE PASSENGER DEPARTED A RURAL GRAVEL AIRSTRIP FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. THE PILOT UTILIZED A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AFTER RETRACTING THE AIRPLANE FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE, LOADED WITHIN .3 POUNDS OF ITS GROSS WEIGHT, STARTED TO SETTLE TOWARD RISING TERRAIN AFTER ONLY CLIMBING ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD ABOUT A MILE FROM THE AIRSTRIP AND DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL RESPONDED AND NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE AND PILOT BORE THE ODOR OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION, THE PILOT WAS ARRESTED FOR OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY ASSESS THE CLIMB PERFORMANCE OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE DUE TO BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City FERNLEY
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89408
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1451 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID RNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 4845
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1010
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44844
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45301
NTSB Number LAX91LA197
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 15076831
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 12 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 4059
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT MILLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1175 MARGARET WAY
Aircraft Owner City FERNLEY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89408
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT MILLER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1175 MARGARET WAY
Operator City FERNLEY
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89408
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 NONE
Departure City FERNLEY
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --