Piper J3C-65 and Cessna TR182 accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, December 28, 1998
On December 28, 1998, 2 aircraft, Piper J3C-65 (N87714) and Cessna TR182 (N882WS), were involved in the same accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). No one was hurt; 2 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
Failure of the pilot-in-command to determine the taxiway was clear and to see and avoid the stationary Cessna TR182.
Failure of the pilot-in-command of the other aircraft to see and avoid the stationary Cessna TR182.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 1998
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N87714 · registry record · serial 15372
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N882WS · registry record · serial 18200835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper J3C-65 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna TR182 had been in the run-up area approximately 2 minutes conducting pretakeoff checks. It was on an easterly heading on the first run-up marker. The pilot of the Piper J3, who was in the rear seat, was going to conduct a run-up prior to taking the aircraft in for annual inspection. As he was taxiing north to the run-up area, he had aircraft parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from the 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he planned to conduct his run-up he saw the Cessna. He shut down his engine and applied the brakes but was unable to stop before hitting the Cessna. His right wing scraped the bottom of the Cessna wing. His propeller struck its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator causing substantial damage. The Piper sustained minor damage to its propeller. The Piper pilot stated he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area and did not see the Cessna. He felt it had either blended in with the background or was in a blind spot.
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 TR182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna TR182 had been in the run-up area approximately 2 minutes conducting pretakeoff checks. It was on an easterly heading on the first run-up marker. The pilot of the Piper J3, who was in the rear seat, was going to conduct a run-up prior to taking the aircraft in for annual inspection. As he was taxiing north to the run-up area, he had aircraft parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from the 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he planned to conduct his run-up he saw the Cessna. He shut down his engine and applied the brakes but was unable to stop before hitting the Cessna. His right wing scraped the bottom of the Cessna wing. His propeller struck its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator causing substantial damage. The Piper sustained minor damage to its propeller. The Piper pilot stated he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area and did not see the Cessna. He felt it had either blended in with the background or was in a blind spot.
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 Piper J3C-65 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,767 hours in all; 1,091 in this make and model; 1,660 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,774 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1997; 151 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna TR182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 705 hours in all; 455 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 705 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1997; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT
- Destination: SGU St. George UT
- Flight plan: none
- 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 LAX99LA059.