Cessna 172 accident near Overton, Nevada, September 20, 1986
On September 20, 1986 at about 8:20 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5481J, was destroyed in an accident near Overton, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- September 20, 1986 · about 8:20 am local time
- Place
- Overton, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5481J · no longer on the register · serial 17273808
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE UNICOM OPERATOR AT BOULDER CITY MADE RADIO CONTACT WITH '81J' AT ABOUT 2300 PDT, AFTER HEARING AN ACFT MANEUVERING IN THE AREA. THE PLT STATED HE DID NOT PLAN TO LND AT BOULDER CITY, BUT SAID HE INTENDED TO FLY 'UP THE VEGAS WASH' AREA. AT APRX 2300 TO 2400, WITNESSES NOTED A LOW FLYING ACFT THAT WAS 'BUZZING' A BOAT, CAMPERS & VEHICLES IN THE AREA OF VEGAS WASH & THE OVERTON ARM OF LAKE MEAD. AT ABOUT 1000 THE NEXT DAY, THE WRECKAGE WAS SIGHTED ABOUT 150 FT BELOW THE CREST OF A 1622 FT MTN, EAST OF THE OVERTON ARM. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF THE PLT'S & PASSENGER'S BLOOD SHOWED ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.18 & 0.14 MG% (0.18% & 0.14%), RESPECTIVELY.
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: 200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1986; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 6:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 am from LAS, 44 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.