N45EH

Substantial
None

G ELWIN HALVORSEN PA18WB/L21-180S/N: TC0609008

Accident Details

Date
Monday, May 30, 2016
NTSB Number
GAA16CA282
Location
Gerlach, NV
Event ID
20160607X13643
Coordinates
40.757221, -119.212776
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

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

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
G ELWIN HALVORSEN
Serial Number
TC0609008
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2014
Model / ICAO
PA18WB/L21-180
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
PA18WB/L21-180

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
HALVORSEN G ELWIN
Address
500 SPACE TEST RD
City
RENO
State / Zip Code
NV 89510-9112
Country
United States

Analysis

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.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA16CA282