Aircraft Excursion at Las Vegas Airport Following Wind Gust

Casualties unknown • Rifle, CO, US

A pilot attempted to land in deteriorating weather conditions at an airport near Las Vegas, resulting in the aircraft striking a runway sign after being pushed off the runway.

What happened

The pilot was operating a flight toward Las Vegas, Nevada, when weather conditions along the route of flight began to deteriorate. Seeking to wait out the weather, the pilot decided to land at the airport. According to the airport's Unicom, winds were reported at 340 degrees at 30 knots, with gusts reaching 35 knots.

A witness observed the aircraft make an initial attempt to land on runway 26, which was followed by a go-around. As weather conditions continued to worsen, the pilot made a second landing attempt. During this second approach, the pilot reported landing on the left side of the runway. A sudden gust of wind pushed the aircraft further to the left, causing it to strike a runway sign.

Probable cause

A wind gust caused the aircraft to veer left off the runway and strike a sign during landing.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1999-09-19 Piper PA-32-300 accident near Rifle, CO?

A pilot attempted to land in deteriorating weather conditions at an airport near Las Vegas, resulting in the aircraft striking a runway sign after being pushed off the runway.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1999-09-19 involved a Piper PA-32-300, registration N323DT, at Rifle, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A wind gust caused the aircraft to veer left off the runway and strike a sign during landing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X19744. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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