Piper PA-34-200 accident near Jean, Nevada, May 17, 1993
On May 17, 1993 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N410DS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jean, Nevada (Jean airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
1) THE PILOTS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, 2) HIS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, AND, 3) HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE LANDING APPROACH AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1993 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N410DS · registry record · serial 347250240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED WITH FIVE PASSENGERS ON A RETURN FLIGHT TO HIS HOME BASE IN THE RENTED AIRPLANE. THE FLIGHT WAS LEVEL AT 8500 FEET MSL WHEN THE PILOT NOTICED THE LEFT INBOARD FRONT COWL FASTENER WAS UNLATCHED. THE PILOT, WHO WAS RECEIVING FLIGHT ADVISORIES FROM TRACON, REQUESTED THE NEAREST AIRPORT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE WAS DIRECTED TO A GRAVEL RUNWAY 4500 FEET LONG. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PLANNING A SHORT FIELD LANDING ON RUNWAY 02. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD SHEARING OFF BOTH MAIN LANDING GEARS AND COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE FROM 020 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD 8 HOURS OF MULTIENGINE TIME AS PILOT IN COMMAND, FOR A TOTAL MULTIENGINE TIME OF 19 HOURS, ALL OF WHICH WERE ACCRUED IN ABOUT THE LAST 90 DAYS
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 266 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,628 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 11, 1993; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Desert Pacific
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 6:20 pm
- Destination: POC Lav Verne CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,545 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.