Stinson AT-19 and Cessna R172E accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, October 19, 1997
On October 19, 1997 at about 1:58 am local time, 2 aircraft, Stinson AT-19 (N88793) and Cessna R172E (N96218), were involved in the same accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot of the Stinson AT-19, N88793, inadequate visual lookout and his failure to perform clearing S-turns while taxiing. A related factor was the inherent forward visual restriction of the aircraft's conventional landing gear design.
The pilot of the Stinson AT-19, N88793, inadequate visual lookout and his failure to perform clearing S-turns while taxiing. A related factor was the inherent forward visual restriction of the aircraft's conventional landing gear design.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1997 · about 1:58 am local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Stinson AT-19
- Registration
- N88793 · registry record · serial 77-38
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna R172E · all R172Es on the register
- Registration
- N96218 · registry record · serial 0214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Stinson AT-19 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Stinson AT-19, N88793, had just landed and had been cleared to taxi to the hangar complex. The Cessna R172E, N96218, was cleared to taxi from another hangar complex to the active runway for an IFR departure. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he had started his taxi from the hangar and was approaching the taxiway. He saw another aircraft moving in his direction in an apparent straight line. The Cessna pilot did not hear or receive any transmissions regarding other aircraft on the taxiway since he had been cleared to taxi. He flashed his lights at the oncoming aircraft to gain the other pilot's attention. The pilot of the Stinson stated that he saw the Cessna 1-2 seconds before impact. The Stinson pilot reported that he did hear the ground controller in contact with another aircraft, but that there were three different ways to get to the active runway from those hangars. Both aircraft were operating on clearances from the North Las Vegas Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) ground controller. The FAA reported that the location where the accident occurred is considered a non-movement area and is not under the responsibility or supervision of the ATCT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna R172E final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Stinson AT-19, N88793, had just landed and had been cleared to taxi to the hangar complex. The Cessna R172E, N96218, was cleared to taxi from another hangar complex to the active runway for an IFR departure. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he had started his taxi from the hangar and was approaching the taxiway. He saw another aircraft moving in his direction in an apparent straight line. The Cessna pilot did not hear or receive any transmissions regarding other aircraft on the taxiway since he had been cleared to taxi. He flashed his lights at the oncoming aircraft to gain the other pilot's attention. The pilot of the Stinson stated that he saw the Cessna 1-2 seconds before impact. The Stinson pilot reported that he did hear the ground controller in contact with another aircraft, but that there were three different ways to get to the active runway from those hangars. Both aircraft were operating on clearances from the North Las Vegas Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) ground controller. The FAA reported that the location where the accident occurred is considered a non-movement area and is not under the responsibility or supervision of the ATCT.
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 for the Stinson AT-19 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,517 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,517 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1997; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U08 Overton NV at 1:00 am
- Destination: VGT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 am from VGT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna R172E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,492 hours in all; 575 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,418 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,062 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 1997; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D21 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT at 1:50 am
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
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 LAX98LA014.