# NTSB LAX94LA376: Cessna 182Q, N96642, Las Vegas, NV, September 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1994, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.240104, -115.230102 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2401&lon=-115.2301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28870 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA376 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28870/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA376 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to shut down the engine before deplaning a passenger. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating - engine shutdown - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - propeller/jet blast encounter - inadvertent, passenger - impairment(alcohol), passenger ## Analysis AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT ADVISED GROUND CONTROL THAT A PASSENGER HAD TO USE THE RESTROOM. THE PILOT STOPPED THE AIRPLANE IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL TO LET THE PASSENGER OUT AND THEN PARK THE AIRCRAFT IN TRANSIENT PARKING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE TO DEPLANE THE PASSENGER; HOWEVER, HE DID TELL HER TO WALK AROUND THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID THE PROPELLER. THE PASSENGER DEPLANED FROM THE LEFT DOOR AND WALKED FORWARD INTO THE ROTATING PROPELLER. THE PILOT VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED TO A TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF BLOOD AND URINE SPECIMENS, WHICH WERE NEGATIVE FOR ALCOHOL AND ALL SCREENED DRUG SUBSTANCES. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS ON BLOOD SAMPLES FROM THE DECEASED PASSENGER WERE POSITIVE FOR BLOOD ETHANOL AT A LEVEL OF 0.17 GM/percent. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1994, at 1545 hours Pacific daylight time, a passenger was fatally injured after walking into the rotating propeller of a Cessna 182Q, N96642, at the North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot and two other passengers onboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which originated at Yuma, Arizona, on the day of the accident at 1330 mountain standard time. After landing, the pilot advised ground control that a passenger had to use the restroom. According to the pilot's written and oral statements, he stopped the airplane in front of the terminal to let the passenger out and then park the aircraft in transient parking. The pilot stated that he did not shut down the engine to deplane the passenger; however, he did tell her to walk around the tail of the aircraft to avoid the propeller. The passenger deplaned from the left door and walked forward into the rotating propeller. Responding North Las Vegas Police officers and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors reported that a strong odor of alcohol was detected in the aircraft. Subsequent investigation by North Las Vegas Police detectives established that the deceased passenger and another passenger, who were in the rear seats, had partially consumed an alcoholic beverage during the flight. The surviving rear seat passenger stated that the beverage had spilled on the floor during the excitement of the accident. The pilot voluntarily submitted to a toxicological examination of blood and urine specimens. The testing was performed under the supervision of the North Las Vegas Police Department. The tests were negative for alcohol and all screened drug substances. Toxicological tests were performed on blood samples from the deceased passenger by the Clark County Coroner/Medical Examiner's Office. The tests were positive for blood ethanol at a level of 0.17 gm/percent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96642](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96642), registered now, S/N 18266791, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18266791 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stanley A. Lawless, doing business as Aero Applicators - Registered owner: Stanley A. Lawless - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 44A, YUMA, AZ - Airport: VGT, N. Las Vegas Air Terminal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 260 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: VGT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940924030529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940924030529A), Sep 24, 1994: Cessna 182Q, Las Vegas, NV, 1 fatal. Deplaned with engine idling. Walked into rotating prop. Passenger had been imbiding alcohol on flight. .017 g alcoh ## Other investigations on N96642 (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX89LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA332), Sep 30, 1989: Cessna 182 (N96642), Eureka, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT, AND A DELAY IN REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). - [NTSB LAX89LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA149), Mar 31, 1989: Cessna 182Q (N96642), Eureka, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.