Piper PA-34-220T accident near Minden, Nevada, August 5, 2024
On August 5, 2024 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1999 Piper PA-34-220T, registered N4145B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Minden, Nevada (Minden-Tahoe 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper preflight inspection of the stabilator trim position, which resulted in a porpoised landing. Contributing to the accident was the maintenance personnel’s improper maintenance of the stabilator trim shaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2024 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Minden-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T, built 1999 · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4145B · registry record · serial 34-49142
- 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 the accident flight was the first flight since the airplane had undergone a recent annual inspection. During the preflight inspection, the pilot conducted a functional check of the stabilator trim with the electric trim control but did not visually verify the stabilator trim position. During the takeoff roll, the pilot noted an anomaly with the stabilator and aborted the takeoff shortly after rotation. During the landing, the airplane porpoised several times and the nose landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the stabilator trim wheel indicator was found in the full nose-down position. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit flight controls to the respective flight control surfaces. Binding was noted when using the stabilator trim wheel and force was needed to rotate the stabilator trim control wheel to the natural position. The examination of the stabilator trim shaft revealed a lack of lubrication and excessive wear on the upper- and lower-barrel mount bearings. The mechanic who conducted the annual inspection reported that no anomalies were noted with the flight controls or the stabilator trim controls. The mechanic reported that he moved the stabilator trim controls to the full nose up position, lubricated the stabilator trim shaft, and then ran the stabilator trim to the full nose down position. During the lubrication of the stabilator trim controls, the mechanic operated the controls while the apprentice lubricated the stabilator trim shaft. However, the apprentice who assisted in the annual inspection reported that he did not recall lubricating the stabilator trim controls. The binding and lack of lubrication on the stabilator trim shaft indicated that the inspection and the lubrication was not conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s maintenance manual. The anomaly noted in the stabilator by the pilot was likely the trim position being in the full nose-down position and not in the neutral position as per the pilot’s operating handbook.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,257 hours in all; 906 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1,026 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 27, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2024; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors IO-360 (piston); 1,450 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors IO-360 (piston); 1,450 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,399 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 am from KMEV
Weather report (METAR): KMEV 051615Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/08 A3017 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on May 6, 2025. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Maintenance Facility | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Maintenance Manual | PDF, 2484 pages | View Download |
| 5 | WPR24LA268 Airframe Examination | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Evidence Control Form | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA268.