Piper PA-18-150 accident near Incline Village, Nevada, August 17, 1992
On August 17, 1992 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N2406J, was destroyed in an accident near Incline Village, Nevada. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT'S IN FLIGHT LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DUE TO PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1992 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Incline Village, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2406J · registry record · serial 18-7909119
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REFUELED THE PIPER CUB AND TOOK OFF WITHOUT MISHAP. THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN PATROLLING PIPELINES, AND DURING THIS PORTION OF THE WESTBOUND ROUTE OVER 8,000 FOOT MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN HE WAS POSITIONING THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN SEGMENTS. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE CRASH AND THE PILOT DID NOT ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH ATC. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ABOUT 9 MILES WEST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE, HEADING EAST, AND WITH ITS ENGINE ABOUT 4 FEET BENEATH GROUND LEVEL. EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE REVEALED CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM, FUEL IN THE ENGINE AND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES. MEDICAL RECORDS INDICATED THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A PAIN IN HIS CHEST. FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY EXPERIENCED CHEST PAINS WHICH WERE SEVERE ENOUGH TO RESULT IN THE PILOT INTERRUPTING HIS ACTIVITY. DURING THE AUTOPSY THE PATHOLOGIST PERFORMED A MICROSCOPIC EXAM OF THE HEART AND FOUND NUCLEAR PLEOMORPHISM AND HYPERCHROMATISM. NO ACUTE CHANGES WERE PRESENT.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2406J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. 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 LAX92FA356.