Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Monday, January 4, 1982 21:20 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT, A PIPER PA-34, WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT TO TRANSPORT BANK CHECKS ON A PART 135 OPERATION. ANOTHER COMPANY PILOT IN A CESSNA 207 STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS AT 9500 FT WHILE HE WAS FLYING FROM TONOPAH TO LAS VEGAS, NV. THE CESSNA PILOT HAD TALKED TO THE PIPER PILOT ON THE RADIO. REPORTEDLY, THE PIPER PILOT WAS GOING TO STAY AT 9500 FT. THE WRECKAGE OF THE PIPER WAS FOUND AT THE 9500 FT LEVEL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF LAS VEGAS. THE CRASH SITE WAS ON THE WEST SIDE OF MT CHARLESTON. THE AIRCRAFT HAD IMPACTED A SLOPE OF ABOUT 30 DEGREES, WHILE TRAVELING ON AN EASTERLY HEADING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/4/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2120
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City NEAR LAS VEGAS
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89109
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2049
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID DRA
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1333
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1956H
NTSB Number LAX82FA038
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-200T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-770160
Certified Max Gross Weight 4578
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2391
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVEN D. HANKS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1804 THERESA AVE.
Aircraft Owner City LAS VEGAS
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89101
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LANG AIR SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2772 N. RANCHO DR.
Operator City LAS VEGAS
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89106
Operator Code
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TPH
Departure City TONOPAH
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 2023
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VGT
Destination City LAS VEGAS
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --