Piper PA-60-602P accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, January 2, 2013
On January 2, 2013 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-60-602P, registered N3AG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate descent rate while on final approach, which resulted in a hard landing and landing gear collapse due to overload following the failure of both engines to respond to power inputs during an attempted go-around for reasons that could not be determined due to postcrash fire damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2013 · about 11:15 pm local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-60-602P · all PA-60-602Ps on the register
- Registration
- N3AG · registry record · serial 60-8365018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction conducted three full-stop landings without incident. After the fourth takeoff, the flight instructor simulated a prearranged left engine failure about 600 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot followed emergency procedures, used the checklist, and prepared to land. The pilot reported that, when the airplane was about 50 to 100 ft agl on final approach, he thought that it was a little too high, so he chose to initiate a go-around. He moved the throttle levers full forward, but neither engine responded. The flight instructor pushed the airplane's nose down, and the pilot continued the approach. On touchdown, the right main and nose landing gear collapsed. A postimpact fire ensued, which consumed most of the airplane. Postaccident examination of the landing gear revealed that it collapsed due to bending overload consistent with a hard landing. The reason for the failure of both engines to respond to power inputs could not be determined because of the postcrash fire damage.
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
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Capability exceeded other cases naming the landing gear
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 29, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,535 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 3,020 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 14, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 6,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540-AA1A5 (piston); 3,259 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540-AA1A5 (piston); 3,259 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Managed Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 10:30 pm
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12L, 4,202 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 7, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | RE30 Observations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3AG on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-60 Aerostar 57 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AA1A5 8 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AA1A5 8 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- North Las Vegas Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Nevada 1,294 since 1982 · 223 in the last ten years
- Nevada 4,589 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR13LA082.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.