Henderson Executive Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Henderson, Nevada 89052
Sunday, April 28, 2013 15:57 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine rpm began to decrease and the airplane was unable to maintain a positive rate of climb. The pilot initiated a left turn to return to the runway, however, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot decided to land on a road, and during the landing roll, the right wing struck rocky terrain. At the time of the accident, the airplane exceeded gross weight limitations, the center of gravity was beyond the aft limit, and the density altitude was higher than standard. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, including operating in excess of the maximum certified gross weight and center of gravity limits at a high density altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/28/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1557
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Henderson
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89052
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355813N
Event Location Longitude 1150802W
Event Location Airport Henderson Executive
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 2492
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1556 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID HND
Elevation of weather observation facility 2492
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
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) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KHND 282256Z 23008G17KT 10SM CLR 35/M13 A298
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32660
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2014 2:49PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3483E
NTSB Number WPR13LA209
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17271565
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3096
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name RONALD ALLEN AND ROBERT RITTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City REDONDO BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90278
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name RONALD ALLEN AND ROBERT RITTER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City REDONDO BEACH
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 90278
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 No
Departure Airport Code HND
Departure City Henderson
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1555
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TOA
Destination City Torrance
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 4 2014 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17R
Runway Length 6501
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --