Cessna 402C accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, July 12, 1993
On July 12, 1993 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Cessna 402C, registered N818AN, was destroyed in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (Mccarren International airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE NOSE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR WAS SECURED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1993 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Mccarren International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N818AN · registry record · serial 402C-0324
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD A 25 MIN TURNAROUND FOR THE ACCIDENT TRIP FROM THE PRIOR FLIGHT. NO WITNESSES WERE FOUND WHO OBSERVED THE PILOT PREPARING FOR THE FLIGHT OR PERFORMING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. COMPANY PROCEDURES SPECIFY THAT THE PILOTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING THE BAGGAGE. THE MANIFEST FOR THE PRIOR FLIGHT SHOWED 54 LBS OF BAGGAGE IN THE NOSE COMPARTMENT. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PILOT TOLD THE LOCAL CONTROLLER THAT THE BAGGAGE DOOR WAS OPEN AND HE REQUESTED A 'GO AROUND.' THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TOLD THE PILOT TO MAKE RIGHT TRAFFIC. MULTIPLE WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THEY REPORTED THE PILOT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRPLANE 'FELL TO THE GROUND AND HIT NOSE FIRST.' AN AIRLINE PILOT WITNESS SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ACTIONS WERE A 'CLASSIC VMC ROLL.' OTHER WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE LEFT NOSE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR WAS OPEN DURING THE TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB. EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THE RIGHT ENG WAS DEVELOPING LITTLE OR NO POWER.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 4,120 hours in all; 568 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,968 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,513 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 24, 1993; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,850 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Nevada Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: LAS at 9:39 pm
- Destination: GCN Grand Canyon AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19L, 9,776 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from LAS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.