Piper AEROSTAR 602P accident near Lovelock, Nevada, February 13, 1988
On February 13, 1988 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper AEROSTAR 602P, registered N68915, 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; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1988 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lovelock, Nevada · Derby Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper AEROSTAR 602P AEROSTAR 6 · all AEROSTAR 602Ps on the register
- Registration
- N68915 · no longer on the register · serial 62P088281650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-MULTIENGINE RATED PILOT (LEFT SEAT) EXECUTED A TAKEOFF DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A SLIGHT RIGHT DRIFT. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE NOSE WHEEL STEERING TO CORRECT AND A HARD LEFT SWERVE ENSUED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCRAFT'S DEPARTING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE BY THE ACCOMPANYING FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (RIGHT SEAT) THAT THE USE OF NOSEWHEEL STEERING WAS ACCEPTABLE DURING TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT 'NOSEWHEEL STEERING IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR TAKEOFF SINCE THERE IS A TENDENCY TO OVERSTEER THE TAKEOFF RUN'.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AA1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: APC Napa CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 5,530 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from WNC, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.