Denio Junction Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denio, Nevada 89404
Wednesday, March 20, 2002 12:38 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that due to soft/sandy runway conditions, he was performing a soft-field takeoff procedure. Prior to boarding the airplane, he walked the runway to evaluate the surface condition, and determined that the wind was favoring a takeoff on runway 7. He reported the wind from 080 degrees at 15 knots, gusts to 20 knots. During the takeoff roll, as the airplane neared lift-off at minimum flying speed, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to veer to the right edge of the runway. He elected to abort the takeoff, and the airplane crossed a ditch and came to rest. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind condition. Wind gust is a contributing factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/20/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1238
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Denio
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89404
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415712N
Event Location Longitude 1183750W
Event Location Airport Denio Junction Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E85
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID WMC
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13405
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 20 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Reno, Nevada

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7837W
NTSB Number LAX02LA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 23 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 3446
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William Burnett
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1826 Quail Run Road
Aircraft Owner City Reno
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89523
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code E85
Departure City Denio
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1238
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 4SD
Destination City Reno
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2002 8:01AM
User who most recently changed record JOND
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 07
Runway Length 3100
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --