Piper PA-28-140 accident near Henderson, Nevada, August 17, 1998
On August 17, 1998 at about 2:51 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N291HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Henderson, Nevada (Las Vegas Henderson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1998 · about 2:51 am local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · Las Vegas Henderson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N291HA · registry record · serial 28-22138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the completion of a 2-hour cross-country flight, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 18 with the winds reported as 190 degrees at 8 knots. On final approach the pilot noticed the airplane was being pushed to the left and tried correcting with right control yoke and left rudder. He stated he had the second notch of flaps engaged and power on. During the flare the stall light came on. He indicated this startled and distracted him and that he kept the throttle in until he was off the runway. He pulled power as the aircraft entered a rocky area near the runway. The pilot reported that the lighting conditions at this time of day, shortly after sundown, affected his visual acuity. Sunset was at 1933; civil twilight began at 2001. A computer sun-moon program determined the sun was at -4.2 degrees on a magnetic bearing of 277.7 degrees.
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; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE San Diego CA
- Destination: L15
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 am from LAS, 325 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.