Amateur-built DHC-6-300 accident near Elko, Nevada, July 21, 1997
On July 21, 1997 at about 8:49 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-6-300, registered N776BF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada (Elko airport). 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
The failure of maintenance personnel to correctly diagnose and correct a reoccurring nose gear steering problem, and the improperly tensioned nose wheel steering actuator cables which provided the pilot with an erroneous cockpit indication that the nose gear was centered when it was cocked.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1997 · about 8:49 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-6-300
- Registration
- N776BF · no longer on the register · serial 672
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departing from Reno the aircraft had been ramp-checked by the FAA with no discrepancies noted. The private pilot was responsible for landing, while the airline transport pilot was responsible for completing the before landing checklist, which included checking the position of the nose wheel steering tiller. Upon touchdown, the aircraft veered left of the centerline. The private pilot attempted to brake with right rudder input. The aircraft slowed down but continued to veer to the left. The propellers were put into beta, but the aircraft continued to veer off the left side of the runway, struck a light, and collapsed the nose gear. After repairs, the airline transport pilot ferried the aircraft to an airport in California, with no discrepancies noted. A report submitted by the owner of the aircraft indicates nose gear difficulties dating back to August 1992. The report further stated that if the actuator cables were improperly tensioned the tiller could visually be indicating a horizontal position without the nose wheel being centered. Witnesses reported that upon landing they saw a cloud of smoke emanating from the nose gear. Signature marks found at the initial point of touchdown on the runway are consistent with the nose gear not being in the centered position. The aircraft traveled approximately 200 to 300 feet and then was left of centerline. No discrepancies were noted with the aircraft's braking system. Examination of the nose gear steering cables did reveal that the cables were significantly under tensioned.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,561 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 898 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,152 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 7, 1997; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 6:45 pm
- Destination: EKO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 7,100 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from EKO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.