Piper PA-28-180 accident near Ely, Nevada, October 6, 1996
On October 6, 1996 at about 6:23 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N6614J, was destroyed in an accident near Ely, Nevada (Ely airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to preclude stalling, while turning toward an emergency landing area. A factor related to the accident was: the high density altitude condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1996 · about 6:23 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Nevada · Ely · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6614J · no longer on the register · serial 28-5078
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and nothing unusual was noted. He and three passengers then taxied for takeoff, an engine run-up was conducted, the mixture was leaned for the 8,000-foot density altitude atmospheric condition, and they took off. About 30 seconds after liftoff, between 100 and 200 feet above ground level, the engine started missing. According to one of the passengers, the engine sounded as though it was intermittently operating on three cylinders. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot increased the airplane's angle of attack while turning toward an open field. The airplane stalled, crashed into the field, and was destroyed by fire. The airframe and engine were examined, and no evidence of catastrophic failures were noted. Due to the extent of fire damage, the magnetos, carburetor, fuel pump, and various portions of the induction system could not be completely examined.
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: 242 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,045 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1995; 196 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELY Ely NV at 6:21 pm
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 5,998 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from ELY, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.