Piper PA-20 accident near Winnemucca, Nevada, June 9, 2001
On June 9, 2001 at about 5:15 am local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7783K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winnemucca, Nevada (Winnemucca Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain weather information or an in-flight advisory that would have described current wind information at the destination airport and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2001 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Winnemucca, Nevada · Winnemucca Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7783K · no longer on the register · serial 20-610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touchdown and under a crosswind condition, the airplane became partially airborne again over the runway (runway 32). The right wing struck the ground. The right main landing gear had also collapsed when the airplane "hit hard." The pilot lost directional control and the airplane swerved off the runway. Winds at the airport were reported by the ASOS (Automated Surface Observation Station) as 270 degrees at 13 knots. Peak wind speeds of 26 knots were also recorded. The Winnemucca weather station service records were obtained and did not indicate any operational downtime. The pilot reported a wind gust and the direction as calm on the Accident Report form 6120.1/2. He did not report that he had received an in-flight advisory or had observed the windsock before landing. A weather briefing was received by the pilot 7 hours 45 minutes prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 356 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2000; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S33 Madras OR at 2:00 am
- Destination: WMC Winnemucca NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 am from KWMC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.