G ELWIN HALVORSEN PA18WB/L21-180
Gerlach, NV — May 30, 2016
Event Information
| Date | May 30, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA16CA282 |
| Event ID | 20160607X13643 |
| Location | Gerlach, NV |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 40.75722, -119.21278 |
| Airport | BLACK ROCK CITY |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | G ELWIN HALVORSEN |
| Model | PA18WB/L21-180 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in a nose over.
Full Narrative
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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.