Piper PA 28R-201 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, October 16, 2013
On October 16, 2013 at about 9:38 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 28R-201, registered N3836M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Las Vegas, Nevada (Henderson Executive 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 collapse of a main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined due to no postaccident examination of the airframe.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2013 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Henderson Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-201 201, built 1978 · all PA 28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3836M · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7837139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after successfully completing three practice touch-and-go landings, he extended the landing gear for a fourth landing and noted that the left main gear indicator light was not illuminated. The pilot cycled the landing gear and all three lights then illuminated. A touch-and-go was accomplished and the landing gear was retracted. During the final landing, the landing gear was extended and the left main landing gear light did not illuminate. The pilot cycled the landing gear, however this time the light did not illuminate and he could not confirm that the left main gear was down and locked. The landing approach was continued and shortly after touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, coming to rest in a ditch. The left wing and stabilator were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the left main landing gear wheel well revealed excessive corrosion, dirt, and wear on the landing gear control arm, strut, torque link, gear spring, and associated connections. During a manual extension of the left main landing gear, the gear locked into the down position and the cockpit gear indicator light illuminated. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that a 100-hour inspection was completed about 2 months before the accident.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 270 as pilot in command; 44 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,346 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,749 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 162 hours total
- Operator: Jmls Cirrus LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KHND Las Vegas NV at 8:30 pm
- Destination: KHND Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35R, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2014. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement of Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Statement of Flight Instructor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Statement - Landing Gear Inspection | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Photo Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.