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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 17, 1992 · Piper PA-18-150 · N2406J

Incline Village, NV

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 17, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Incline Village, NV
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N2406J
Operator
Union Flights
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92FA356

The pilot refueled the Piper Cub and took off without mishap. The pilot was engaged in patrolling pipelines, and during this portion of the westbound route over 8,000 foot mountainous terrain he was positioning the airplane between segments. There were no witnesses to the crash and the pilot did not establish contact with ATC. The airplane crashed about 9 miles west of the departure airport. The airplane was found in a near vertical attitude, heading east, and with its engine about 4 feet beneath ground level. Exam of the airframe and engine revealed continuity of the flight control system, fuel in the engine and no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures. Medical records indicated the pilot had experienced a pain in his chest. Family members reported that the pilot had recently experienced chest pains which were severe enough to result in the pilot interrupting his activity. During the autopsy the pathologist performed a microscopic exam of the heart and found nuclear pleomorphism and hyperchromatism. No acute changes were present.

NTSB Probable Cause

WAS THE PILOT'S IN FLIGHT LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DUE TO PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT REFUELED THE PIPER CUB AND TOOK OFF WITHOUT MISHAP. THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN PATROLLING PIPELINES, AND DURING THIS PORTION OF THE WESTBOUND ROUTE OVER 8,000 FOOT MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN HE WAS POSITIONING THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN SEGMENTS. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE CRASH AND THE PILOT DID NOT ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH ATC. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ABOUT 9 MILES WEST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE, HEADING EAST, AND WITH ITS ENGINE ABOUT 4 FEET BENEATH GROUND LEVEL. EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE REVEALED CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM, FUEL IN THE ENGINE AND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES. MEDICAL RECORDS INDICATED THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A PAIN IN HIS CHEST. FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY EXPERIENCED CHEST PAINS WHICH WERE SEVERE ENOUGH TO RESULT IN THE PILOT INTERRUPTING HIS ACTIVITY. DURING THE AUTOPSY THE PATHOLOGIST PERFORMED A MICROSCOPIC EXAM OF THE HEART AND FOUND NUCLEAR PLEOMORPHISM AND HYPERCHROMATISM. NO ACUTE CHANGES WERE PRESENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:50 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN2406J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorUnion Flights
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 10 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data