Another small plane crash in North Las Vegas

[Awsi Dooger]

Source: Las Vegas media

Second time in a week.

The plane is a small twin-engine Piper that apparently went down about a half mile beyond the runway and crashed into homes. This is the smaller North Las Vegas Airport, not McCarran International. No doubt there will be major scrutiny on safety aspects of the North Las Vegas Airport. This is the 3rd crash in 2008. Last week's crash was also shortly after takeoff.

The local news is all over this story and I'm using bits and pieces from the TV reports. One report says 1 fatality, but unconfirmed. The home may have been a forclosure but with one person recently occupying it.

TV indicates more than one home was impacted today, unlike last week in the same general area when an experimental plane hit only one house, killing two occupants and the pilot.

The plane today reportedly hit power lines before veering to the left and hitting the homes. It is poor air quality today with 108 degree heat and haze. TV reporters are speculating if that was a factor.

The crash was roughly 2:34 PM Pacific, about 100 minutes ago.

Late report from TV: one woman was injured and treated at the scene but not seriously hurt.

Major damage as shown on local TV helicopters, a multi story home with fire trucks now working on the home.

Read more: http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8917455

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. crap

I have family in that area. Hope they're okay.

[Ian David]

2. Are people just not able to afford enough fuel to get their private planes all the way home? n/t

[enlightenment]

3. Here's another link -

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/08/28/state/n151023D47.DTL&tsp=1

Maybe they should start looking at the quality of the fuel they're putting in these planes . . .

Damn.

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Better yet, start looking at the quality of workmanship done at the repair facility.

Walker said the plane had arrived at the airport safely earlier in the week and had since undergone mechanical work.

The pilot reported a "rough running engine" shortly after takeoff.

After taking off from an airport where some work had been done on the airplane.

Not the fuel. Could be something as simple as a $.20 hose clamp not properly reinstalled.

[karlschneider]

5. There aren't any 20 cent hose clamps approved for airplanes...

one with PMA certification that's otherwise identical to the one for your 96 Ford will run about 8 dollars...but that is a possibility. I had one on the intake manifold of a Cessna 182 break and stop the engine back in 1965. It started running REAL lean! :-)

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. I was a parts manager for an FBO back in the '80's, so yes, I agree - twenty cents was a lowball

I used to regularly purchase Cessna, Bell Helicopter, Piper and some Beechcraft parts for a Dealer/Flight School at Tamiami Airport.

I'm quite sure the prices have risen rather dramatically since then, but if you're paying eight bucks for a Breeze clamp, you're being ripped off;

http://www.skygeek.com/hardware-qs200-clamp.html

MS21919 series clamps are even cheaper;

http://www.skygeek.com/hardware-ms21919wdg-clamp.html
(yes, I'm aware they have different applications and are not necessarily interchangeable.)

I haven't bought aircraft hardware for 25 years, but I didn't think I was off by THAT large a degree! A buck maybe but not by 7.

I'm nothin' but a frustrated pilot wannabe anyway.

It's now a toss-up. Build a Locomotive or take flying lessons.

I know..I'll do both!

[enlightenment]

8. True.

NLV airport is constantly looking for workers - can't recall the name of the company, but it seems like it's a maintenance company of some kind . . .

Very sad, regardless. If sounds like the pilot tried to avoid the homes, but couldn't.

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. According to Airnav.com, there are two aircraft maintenance facilities there.

From the Airnav.com website, North Las Vegas Airport has two firms that do maintenance.
Lone Mountain Aviation and Mojave Aviation, LLC.

One of those two worked on this aircraft.

[enlightenment]

10. Aerotek is the one who is hiring, so I guess that

tinfoil hat theory is a wash . . . so much for my career as a detective.

[catnhatnh]

6. When 3 happen in a month....

at the same airport, and if they all happen on takeoff, the likely culprit is either HUGE coincidence or fuel in the airports fuel tank...part of a normal preflight is to check for water in sumps built into the aircraft tanks...but it is also normal to fuel just prior to a flight unless you are based at the airport when the aircraft will be fueled on landing to prevent airspace for condensation in the tank until the next flight. So if you are only passing thru the airport you will both fuel and depart before water in the fuel settles and becomes appearent in the sumps and drains. If you live in the area think there's a problem and you want to help, you should call the EPA and ask the tanks be checked...especially if it is killing people.