Piper PA-38-112 accident near Jean, Nevada, May 7, 1990
On May 7, 1990 at about 8:17 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2359L, was destroyed in an accident near Jean, Nevada (Jean airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS/WINDSHEAR WHICH EXCEEDED THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1990 · about 8:17 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2359L · registry record · serial 38-79A0731
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT ENCOUNTERED METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS DESCRIBED BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AS TREMENDOUS DOWNDRAFTS. THE PIPER PA-38-112 CRASHED ON CROSSWIND LEG, INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,404 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 1,331 as pilot in command; 318 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,190 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 14, 1990; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Desert Southwest Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,545 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 20 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from LAS, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.