Piper PA 28-181 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, July 19, 2015
On July 19, 2015 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA 28-181, registered N8740E, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Las Vegas, Nevada (Henderson Exec airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The engine's inability to produce full-rated power due to wear on internal engine components, which resulted in a loss of altitude and subsequent landing on uneven terrain. Contributing to the accident was the airplane owner's failure to maintain the engine in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended guidance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2015 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Henderson Exec · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-181, built 1976 · all PA 28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8740E · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690195
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that the takeoff seemed normal, but once airborne, the airplane's climb was "sluggish," and the engine rpm was between 200 and 300 rpm lower than normal. He was able to maintain straight and level flight at 300 ft above ground level. When the pilot made a left turn in an attempt to return to the airport, the airplane immediately began to lose altitude. The pilot subsequently landed in an open construction site. During the landing sequence onto uneven terrain, the landing gear was torn off, and the airplane caught fire, which subsequently consumed the airplane. During postaccident examination of the engine, as the crankshaft was rotated by hand, the travel of the intake valve rockers was about 50% less than normal. Disassembly of the engine revealed wear on the intake lobes of the camshaft and spalling damage on the faces of the tappets. The decreased travel of the intake valves would have reduced the amount of fuel/air mixture allowed into each cylinder, which reduced the overall power the engine could produce. A review of maintenance records revealed that the engine was last overhauled 28 years before the accident and had accumulated 1,461 hours since overhaul. The engine manufacturer recommended that the engine be overhauled after 2,000 hours of operation or after 12 years, whichever occurred first.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Not inspected
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Owner/builder
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Owner/builder
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 133 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 96 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 2015; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 1,453 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KHEN Las Vegas NV at 8:30 pm
- Destination: KSDM San Deigo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 6,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KHND, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.