Piper PA-28-235 accident near Lovelock, Nevada, January 29, 1994
On January 29, 1994 at about 8:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8760W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lovelock, Nevada (Derby Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
THAT THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING THE FLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1994 · about 8:46 pm local time
- Place
- Lovelock, Nevada · Derby Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8760W · registry record · serial 28-10300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE STALLED WHEN THE PILOT FLARED AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING. THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE RUNWAY.
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: 2,005 hours in all; 1,960 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,965 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,359 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1993; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD Reno NV at 8:11 pm
- Destination: LOL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,486 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.