Russian-Built Airplane Substantially Damaged, Pilot Seriously Injured

The NTSB has released a preliminary report in an incident involving a MiG-21 airplane which was involved in a runway excursion at Reno-Stead Airport (KRTS) in Reno, NV November 1.

According to the report,at about 0940 PDT, a Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21 UM, N20739, was substantially damaged during a runway overrun at KRTS. The airplane was registered to Migs of Delaware LLC., Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight which originated from RTS at 0915.

The pilot reported that while landing on runway 14, he initially applied maximum braking. The airplane slowed faster than normal and the pilot released the brakes for about 1,000 feet. The pilot reapplied brakes with no braking action noted and applied the emergency brake, with no response noted. Subsequently, the airplane overran the departure end of the runway, traveled down an embankment, and came to rest upright.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the fuselage and wings were structurally damaged. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

(MiG 21 pictured in file photo. Not incident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov