Amateur-built MIG 15UTI accident near Reno, Nevada, October 16, 1997
On October 16, 1997 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MIG 15UTI, registered N17KM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudged landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery technique.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 1997 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MIG 15UTI
- Registration
- N17KM · no longer on the register · serial 1A08017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that his traffic pattern approach and final approach airspeed to the runway appeared normal, and no mechanical malfunctions were experienced during the flight. The airplane touched down hard on the runway and thereafter bounced several times. The pilot attempted to recover but he lost control after the left wing contacted the runway. The airplane rolled over and slid 1,750 feet before coming to a stop upside down.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,736 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,065 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 16, 1997; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,875 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Klimov VK-1 (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 4SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 8,080 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.