Piper PA22-150 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, April 15, 1991
On April 15, 1991 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Piper PA22-150, registered N4416A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY SELECTED THE FUEL TANK THAT DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1991 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22-150 · all PA22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4416A · registry record · serial 22-3744
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS POWER. THE PILOT NEGOTIATED SEVERAL TURNS IN SEARCH OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. THE PILOT THEN EXECUTED A SHARP 90 DEGREE TURN AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY SELECTED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE TO THE LEFT TANK WHICH DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL. THE RIGHT TANK WAS FOUND NEARLY FULL OF FUEL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 232 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Arden NV at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX91LA178.