March 06, Reno, Nev. / Piper Cherokee 180

It was about noon Pacific time when a Piper PA-28-180 made a hard landing at Reno/Stead Airport. A witness reported that he saw the airplane on final approach in a very high angle of attack. About 50 – 60 feet above ground, the airplane stalled and the nose gear contacted the runway surface with the main landing gear following immediately thereafter. The airplane was about 10 to 15 degrees in a nose down attitude when it contacted the runway. The nose wheel broke off immediately after contact and the airplane skidded on its nose a short distance down the runway.