Amateur-built HIGHLANDER accident near Elko, Nevada, October 20, 2024
On October 20, 2024 at about 11:22 pm local time, a 2003 amateur-built HIGHLANDER, registered N716DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Elko, Nevada (Elko Rgnl 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 direction control during a go-around, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2024 · about 11:22 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HIGHLANDER, built 2003
- Registration
- N716DW · registry record · serial JAESC0043
- 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 applied right aileron and rudder control inputs to control for a left drift during his approach to the runway. As he rotated the airplane into a three-point attitude prior to touchdown he noticed the airplane had a high rate of descent. The pilot added throttle and pulled back on the flight control stick; however, this did not arrest the descent rate. He subsequently advanced the throttle to full power for a go-around, but the airplane firmly touched down on the runway surface. The pilot struggled to enter a climb, which he attributed to having 40° of extended flaps at the time. When the airplane did begin to climb the pilot noticed that it had turned to the left and his right wing was in the air. He immediately reduced engine power and moved the flight control stick to the left to avoid a collision with a group of hangars. The airplane then ground looped to the left and side loaded the right main landing gear. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation.
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 defining event
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 499 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 439 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 4, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 247.2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 8, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 2,624 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U76 Mountain Home ID at 8:26 pm
- Runway 12/3, 3,015 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KELY, 43 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KELY 202253Z AUTO 25009KT 10SM CLR 18/M06 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP185 T01831061 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 8, 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 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.