Jean Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jean, Nevada 89019
Monday, May 7, 1990 13:17 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT ENCOUNTERED METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS DESCRIBED BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AS TREMENDOUS DOWNDRAFTS. THE PIPER PA-38-112 CRASHED ON CROSSWIND LEG, INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS/WINDSHEAR WHICH EXCEEDED THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/7/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1317
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City JEAN
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89019
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JEAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0L7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2833
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID LAS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2458
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 5300
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 456
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 7 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1510
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41390
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2359L
NTSB Number SEA90FA072
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0731
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 14 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 3190
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES C ZSOREY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1005 D WILLOWTREE DR.
Aircraft Owner City LAS VEGAS
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89128
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DESERT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5616 SOUTH HAVEN
Operator City LAS VEGAS
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89119
Operator Code JBFA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LAS
Departure City LAS VEGAS
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1220
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 4545
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --