Amateur-built BREEZY RLU-1A accident near Henderson, Nevada, October 21, 1995
On October 21, 1995 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BREEZY RLU-1A, registered N3184, was substantially damaged in an accident near Henderson, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain a proper cruise altitude and his inadequate in-flight planning. Contributing factors were encountering rising terrain and a downdraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1995 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BREEZY RLU-1A BREEZY RLU
- Registration
- N3184 · no longer on the register · serial 163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A DRY LAKE BED, THE PILOT INTENDED TO FLY TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE CRUISING EN ROUTE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AT A LOW ALTITUDE, HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG WINDS, DOWNDRAFTS, AND RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED OVER THE FIRST RIDGE. APPROACHING THE SECOND RIDGE, HE ENCOUNTERED 'A SEVERE DOWN DRAFT' AND THE AIRPLANE PANCAKED INTO THE UP-SLOPING ROCKY GROUND. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,416 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,318 as pilot in command; 251 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 979 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1994; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: El Dorado Dry NV at 10:25 pm
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3184 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.