Piper PA32-300 accident near Silver Springs, Nevada, September 26, 2020
On September 26, 2020 at about 2:45 am local time, a Piper PA32-300, registered N4132W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Silver Springs, Nevada (Silver Springs 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 failure to maintain directional control during a nighttime landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2020 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Silver Springs, Nevada · Silver Springs Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-300 · all PA32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4132W · registry record · serial 32-40198
- 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, while landing on runway 24 at night, with a crosswind, the airplane veered to the right and despite his control inputs to correct, the airplane exited the runway onto the adjacent soft terrain. Concerned the airplane may “get stuck” in the soft terrain, he maintained power and continued to taxi towards the taxiway. He heard and felt a bang that jolted the airplane. After slowing and turning onto the taxiway, the airplane would not continue. After shutting down the engine, the pilot inspected the airplane and found that the right main landing gear tire was flat, and the left wing was substantially damaged as a result of a collision with a taxiway sign. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the automated weather at the time of the accident was reporting the wind from 290o at 12 knots, gusting to 24 knots.
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
- Ground collision during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight engineer, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,132 hours in all; 243 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,083 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 21, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,293 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 24, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 5,305 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLX Fallon NV at 2:30 am
- Destination: FLX Fallon NV
- Runway 24, 6,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KCXP, 26 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCXP 260235Z AUTO 34014KT 10SM CLR 24/01 A3010 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 10, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.