Piper PA-22 accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada, October 21, 1995
On October 21, 1995 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N1845A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to see and avoid utility transmission wires suspended across the final approach flight path.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1995 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Battle Mountain, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N1845A · no longer on the register · serial 22-1083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD LOCATED ON A PRIVATE RANCH, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED UTILITY TRANSMISSION LINES SUSPENDED 30 FEET ABOVE AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT SEVERED THREE LINES AND TRAVELLED 140 FEET FURTHER BEFORE IMPACTING ON THE ROAD IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. ALL THREE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID OFF THE ROAD STRIKING A BARBED WIRE FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 240 FEET BEYOND THE TRANSMISSION LINES. THE PILOT WAS LOOKING AT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR INSTRUMENT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED.
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: 106 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 1995; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Horseshoe Bend ID at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from B23, 150 miles away
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.