Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crash, Aug 30, 1978 (10 killed)
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident on August 30, 1978 near North Las Vegas Nevada, United States with 10 fatalities. Cause: A backed-out...
- Date: August 30, 1978
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
- Location: North Las Vegas Nevada, United States
- Fatalities: 10
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: A backed-out elevator down-stop bolt limited downward elevator travel, making it impossible for the pilot to prevent a nose-up pitch and stall after takeoff. The NTSB could not determine how the jam nut locking device loosened and allowed the stop bolt to back out.
A Las Vegas Airlines Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain (N44LV) on a charter flight to Santa Ana, California, crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 25 at North Las Vegas Airport on 30 August 1978. All ten people on board, nine passengers and the pilot, were killed. There was no fire.