Piper PA-28-161 accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, May 4, 1982
On May 4, 1982 at about 8:07 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N29500, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1982 · about 8:07 pm local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N29500 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT THE INSTRUCTOR WAS DEMONSTRATING A SHORT FIELD LANDING USING THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. ON FINAL THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DIRT BANK SEPARATING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THERE WERE NO MARKINGS ON THE BERM AND THE EARTH BLENDED IN WITH THE SURROUNDINGS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD PERFORMED SEVERAL TOUCH AND GO'S IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,361 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 168 in the last 90 days; 1,240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,192 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,125 ft by 65 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 153°F (67°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:47 pm from LAS, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.