Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Henderson Executive Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Las Vegas, Nevada 89183
Monday, September 6, 2010 8:15 PDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
An air traffic controller cleared the airplane for takeoff, and he noticed that the airplane remained on the runway until just after the 4,000-foot point of the runway. The controller stated that as the airplane lifted off, it did not appear to be climbing. The controller asked the pilot if he was making a left downwind departure, and the pilot responded affirmative and that he had trouble gaining altitude. Shortly after, the pilot advised the controller that he was going to return to the airport. The controller cleared the pilot direct to the airport, and subsequently saw the airplane descend below a tree line followed by a black plume of smoke rising from the area. One of the passengers stated that during takeoff, the airplane climbed slowly as always then started to feel different, "like it [the airplane] was stepping down." Shortly after, the passenger heard the pilot say that they were losing altitude followed by what sounded like terrain alarms sounding off and the engine "rearing up and down." A witness located near the accident site observed the accident airplane flying at a low altitude, appearing not to be climbing before losing sight of the airplane. The witness stated that the flaps and landing gear appeared to be retracted and that the engine sounded like it was straining to keep the airplane airborne.
Examination of the accident site and aircraft wreckage revealed signatures consistent with a near-level, right wing-low impact with a tree and a light pole prior to impacting a road. Examination of the airplane, flight control systems, engine, and propeller revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The density altitude was calculated to be 4,539 feet. Review of airplane manufacturer’s takeoff performance charts revealed that at the time of the accident, the weather and environment conditions were within the takeoff performance chart limitations. The investigation determined that at the time of the accident, the airplane was at least 36 pounds over the specified maximum gross weight for the airplane, including damp baggage items. The exact weight of items stowed within the airplane could not be determined due to the postaccident fire. The operation of the airplane at such a small amount over the maximum gross weight at a high density altitude should not have degraded the airplane’s takeoff performance.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's inability to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 9/6/2010 |
| Event Day of the Week | Monday |
| Time of Event | 815 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Event City | Las Vegas |
| Event State | NEVADA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 89183 |
| Event Date Year | 2010 |
| Event Date Month | 9 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 360054N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1150915W |
| Event Location Airport | Henderson Executive Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | HND |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 2 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 2492 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 756 Pacific Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 159 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | HND |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 2492 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 2 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 27 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -3 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 50 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 6 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.88 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 2 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 2 |
| Injury Total All | 4 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 29145 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Ops |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 30 2011 11:55AM |
| User who most recently changed record | johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N36072 |
| NTSB Number | WPR10FA449 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | PIPER |
| Aircraft Model | PA-32RT-300 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 32R-7885156 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 3600 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 6 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Mar 30 2010 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 91 |
| Airframe Hours | 3517 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | C91-A |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Douglas J Touchet |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | Erath |
| Aircraft Owner State | LA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 70533 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | Douglas J Touchet |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Erath |
| Operator State | LA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 70533 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| 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) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | HND |
| Departure City | Las Vegas |
| Departure State | NV |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 816 |
| Departure Time Zone | PDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | -- |
| Destination City | Roswell |
| Destination State | NM |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 24 2011 4:31PM |
| User who most recently changed record | stam |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |