Piper PA-34-220T accident near Elko, Nevada, November 27, 2002
On November 27, 2002 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N224BD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada (Elko Muni-J.C. Harris Field). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2002 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko Muni-J.C. Harris Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N224BD · no longer on the register · serial 34-8133186
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane lost power in both engines and impacted terrain short of the runway. While on final approach to runway 05, both of the airplane's engines simultaneously experienced a total loss of power. Despite the pilot's attempts, both engines failed to restart and he configured the airplane for a forced landing. Upon touch down, the airplane impacted desert terrain and bushes. During a post accident examination, an FAA inspector found no evidence of fuel in the airplane's four fuel tanks. He further stated that all tanks and fuel lines remained intact. The airplane's operator reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,750 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2002; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 5:30 pm
- Destination: EKO Elko NV
- Runway 5, 7,221 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from EKO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N224BD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.