Piper PA 28-181 accident near Las Vegas, NV
On July 19, 2015, a Piper PA 28-181 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, NV. 4 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 19, 2015
- Place
- Las Vegas, NV
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-181 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 4 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.933°N, 115.133°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150719X02305
Official records · WPR15LA217
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 19, 2015, about 1320 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8740E, collided with terrain minutes after departing Henderson Executive Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The private pilot and three passengers were seriously injured, and the airplane was destroyed by a postaccident fire. The airplane was registered to the private pilot, and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight originated from Las Vegas about 1330, and was destined for San Diego, California. The pilot reported that the takeoff seemed normal, but once airborne the airplane's climb was "sluggish" and the engine's rpm's at 200-300 rpm lower than normal. He was able to maintain straight and level flight about 300 feet above ground level (agl). When the pilot made a left-hand turn in an attempt to return to the airport, the airplane immediately began to lose altitude. The pilot selected a landing site, and executed a forced landing into an open area associated with a construction site. During the landing sequence into uneven terrain, the landing gear was torn off, and the airplane caught fire. As soon as the airplane came to rest, the front passenger door was opened and the occupants evacuated the airplane. The airplane was consumed by the postaccident fire. The tower controller at Henderson Airport reported that the airplane appeared to not be climbing normally after takeoff, and he cleared the pilot to make any maneuvers necessary to return to the airpor
Probable cause
The engine's inability to produce full-rated power due to wear on internal engine components, which resulted in a loss of altitude and subsequent landing on uneven terrain. Contributing to the accident was the airplane owner's failure to maintain the engine in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended guidance.
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Browse: Nevada · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
