Calvada Meadows Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pahrump, Nevada 89048
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he planned to accomplish a power-off landing to the runway and reduced engine power to idle during the descent from 9,000 feet to the traffic pattern altitude (3,700 feet). On final approach to the runway, the pilot applied carburetor heat. Shortly thereafter, the airplane descended below the glide path and the pilot increased engine power in an effort to correct the situation. The engine did not respond to the pilot’s inputs, and he subsequently landed short of the runway. The pilot reported that he suspected carburetor icing and that he should have applied carburetor heat immediately after retarding the throttle. However, the ground temperature and dew point at the time of the accident did not fall within the carburetor icing range. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power during the landing approach for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Pahrump
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89048
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 361615N
Event Location Longitude 1155942W
Event Location Airport Calvada Meadows
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NV74
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2726
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1100 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DRA
Elevation of weather observation facility 3230
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 231
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30783
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2013 7:43AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1677D
NTSB Number WPR11LA457
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 170
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20319
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 3
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 24 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2946
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SWENSON ROGER A
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LAS VEGAS
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89157-0215
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SWENSON ROGER A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LAS VEGAS
Operator State NV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 89157-0215
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KVGT
Departure City North Las Vegas
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NV74
Destination City Pahrump
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2012 1:08PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --