Cessna 401A accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, June 1, 1983
On June 1, 1983 at about 9:49 pm local time, a Cessna 401A, registered N6293Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 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
- June 1, 1983 · about 9:49 pm local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401A · all 401As on the register
- Registration
- N6293Q · no longer on the register · serial 401A0093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFTS MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING TOUCHDOWN. AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 600 FT BEYOND THE THRESHOLD AND 90 FT NORTHWEST OF THE RWY EDGE. AN FAA INSPECTOR SAID 'IT APPEARS THAT AN ADJUSTING SCREW (P/N 0841113-1) ON THE RETRACTION LINKAGE FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR TORETRACT AND SHEAR A BOLT (P/N NAS 46404-26) ON THE BELLCRANK ASSEMBLY.' ACCORDING TO A CESSNA REPRESENTATIVE THE FAILURECOULD BE THE RESULT OF WEAR OR MISRIGGING. THE COMPANY OWNING AND OPERATING THE ACFT CEASED FLT OPERATIONS ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,021 hours in all; 743 in this make and model; 182 in the last 90 days; 3,990 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,824 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 27, 1983; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Abba Industries INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 8:31 pm
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 3,270 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 29 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.