Cessna 180-L accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, May 3, 1985
On May 3, 1985 at about 9:18 pm local time, a Cessna 180-L, registered N4979A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas Air Term. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1985 · about 9:18 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas Air Term. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180-L · all 180-Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4979A · registry record · serial 32376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLLOUT A GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE LEFT WING. THE ACFT ROLLED DOWN THE RNY ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR UNTIL IT COLLAPSED. ALTHOUGH THE TOWER REPORTED THE WIND AS BEING STRAIGHT DOWN THE RWY, THE PLT AND THE PLT WHO LANDED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED GUSTY CROSS WINDS.
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: 207 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,118 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 15, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITL Imperial CA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.