Piper PA 28R-201T accident near Nipton, California, November 17, 2017
On November 17, 2017 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1977 Piper PA 28R-201T, registered N5966V, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Nipton, California. 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
A loss of engine power due to the detonation of the No. 5 cylinder due to excessive leaning at high power settings, which resulted in a forced landing and the subsequent hard touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2017 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Nipton, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-201T 201T, built 1977 · all PA 28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N5966V · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7703172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 40 minutes after takeoff and while the airplane was at a cruise altitude of 10,000 ft mean sea level, the pilot began leaning the engine mixture. After about 5 minutes, the pilot observed that the engine was running roughly, the No. 5 cylinder head temperature had spiked, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot could not restore engine power and subsequently made a forced landing on a highway. The airplane touched down hard, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. A postaccident engine examination confirmed continuity to the accessory section. Spark was produced on all six top spark plug leads, and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders except the No. 5 cylinder. The top spark plugs were removed, and all except the No. 5 spark plug exhibited dark-colored combustion deposits; the No. 5 spark plug exhibited a molten, metal-like substance around the electrode. Cylinder Nos. 1 and 3 exhibited minor signs of detonation. The No. 5 cylinder exhibited signs of detonation/preignition with material missing from around the circumference of the piston face, and the No. 5 cylinder exhaust and intake valves showed signs of mechanical damage. The detonation was consistent with excessive leaning at high power settings.
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 engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,379 hours in all; 1,013 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,375 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 12, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,654 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2017; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,912 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-360-FB-1 (piston); 4,135 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Destination: POC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 21 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from HND, 44 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 5, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engine Data Monitor (EDM) - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Engine Data Monitor (EDM) - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 | data file | Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Summary of Engine Examination | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.