Dehavilland DHC-6-300 accident near Boulder City, Nevada, May 6, 2025
On May 6, 2025 at about 9:50 pm local time, a 1969 Dehavilland DHC-6-300, registered N142SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Boulder City, Nevada (Boulder City Muni airport). It was an aerial observation flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 13 people were on board or involved. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2025 · about 9:50 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Boulder City, Nevada · Boulder City Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 13 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC-6-300, built 1969 · all DHC-6-300s on the register
- Registration
- N142SA · registry record · serial 241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 6, 2023, about 1450 Pacific daylight time, a DeHavilland DHC-6-300, N142SA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada. The 2 pilots and 11 passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 non-scheduled air taxi flight. The pilot reported that while operating in visual flight rules (VFR) weather conditions from Grand Canyon Bar Ten Airstrip (1Z1) Whitmore, Arizona to Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU). While enroute to BVU, they observed adverse weather along their route of flight and diverted south with the intention of landing at Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Henderson, Nevada if the weather worsened. The pilot stated that the weather conditions improved east of BVU and they turned towards the airport. About 7 miles southeast of BVU while maneuvering for weather, the airplane encountered brief light turbulence and hail that lasted about 5 to 6 seconds. The pilot stated that following the encounter, they landed at BVU uneventfully. A convective significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) 11W was valid on the day of the accident from 1355 to 1459, 20 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. An isolated thunderstorm was moving from 300° at 15 knots with the tops of the clouds ay about 33,000 ft. The valid time of the report ended at 1555. Post flight examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both wings, , vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizers.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70,008.2 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 20, 2025; 565 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Monarch Enterprises INC
The flight
- Departed from: 1Z1 Whitmore AZ
- Destination: BVD Boulder City NV
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 15 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 600 ft; a few clouds
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KBVU
Weather report (METAR): KBVU 062135Z AUTO 04015G27KT 3/4SM VCTS RA BKN006 OVC030 15/11 A2985 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 11 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N142SA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Dehavilland DHC-6 114 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Dehavilland 861 aircraft on the register
- Boulder City Municipal · nearest airport
- Grand Canyon Bar Ten Airstrip Airport · departed from
- 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/WPR25LA152.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.