Cessna 180K accident near Lake Mead, Nevada, July 15, 1997
On July 15, 1997 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N2914K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Mead, Nevada. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
Failure of the number 4 piston for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1997 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Mead, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2914K · registry record · serial 18053127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while climbing to cruise flight he heard a bang from the engine, followed by a major vibration. The engine continued vibrating and he was unable to maintain altitude, so he pulled the aircraft into a stall to stop and feather the propeller. He stated that he attempted to land in a parking lot, but came in too high and too fast. He touched down on a road and collided with a berm. A FAA inspector examined the aircraft and noted two holes in the engine case above the forward cylinder's connecting rods. Further examination of the powerplant revealed that the Nos. 2 and 6 cylinders were intact. Neither piston displayed any sign of heat discoloration around the skirts. Combustion deposits were noted on the piston crowns. There was no staining or piston crown edge erosion. Both skirts were failed. The No. 4 cylinder piston was disintegrated around the pin. The piston rod was bent and the piston pin was still intact through the rod wrist. Neither the rod nor the pin displayed any indication of heat distress. There was no scoring noted inside the cylinder barrel. The No. 4 bottom sparkplug was fouled with metal. The sump contained oil and large chunks of pistons. The pilot reported that the Continental O-470-U engine had 2536.1 hours of total time, 75.2 hours since the last inspection, and 806.8 hours since the last overhaul. The maintenance records revealed that the six pistons, each with a Superior Air Parts, Inc., part number SA 648029, were installed during the last major engine overhaul on February 19, 1990.
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: 3,792 hours in all; 3,692 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 3,792 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1996; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 61B Boulder City NV
- Destination: U77 Spanish Fork UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from LAS, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 LAX97LA242.