Piper PA-22-150 accident near Pahrump, Nevada, October 27, 2010
On October 27, 2010 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7807D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pahrump, Nevada (Calvada Meadows Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent activation of brakes upon touchdown, resulting in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2010 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pahrump, Nevada · Calvada Meadows Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7807D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5451
- 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 he had recently purchased the airplane and was practicing full stall [stop?] landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. During his sixth landing of the day, he decided to try a wheel landing. As the airplane touched down, it was responding erratically and pulled to the left toward the runway edge lights. The pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full throttle; however, the airplane exited the runway edge and the left main landing gear struck sage brush. The airplane subsequently ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that examination of the runway revealed a long curved skid mark from the left main landing gear, as if he were touching the brake. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Unneccessary use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 2 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,456 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2010; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NV74 Pahrump NV at 6:54 pm
- Destination: NV74 Pahrump NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from DRA, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.