Accident Overview
On April 13, 2025, at approximately 0850 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182L, registration N182VE, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing near Erie, Nevada. The aircraft was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured, while one passenger received minor injuries.
Flight Details
The pilot reported departing Henderson Executive Airport (HND) in Las Vegas, Nevada, around 0830 for a personal scenic flight. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to 3,500 ft mean sea level (msl) and configured the airplane for cruise with engine settings of 2,300 rpm and 23 inches of manifold pressure. Approximately 3 miles southwest of HND, the pilot increased the engine and propeller settings to 2,500 rpm and 25 inches of manifold pressure, intending to climb to 4,500 ft msl.
Loss of Climb Performance
The pilot reported that the airplane would not climb, slowly lost airspeed, and eventually could not maintain altitude. Faced with this situation, the pilot decided to initiate an emergency landing.
Emergency Landing
The pilot selected a road adjacent to Interstate 15 for the landing. During the descent, the pilot noticed oncoming vehicular traffic and maneuvered the airplane into a ditch to avoid collision. The landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
Investigation
The airplane and engine were recovered to a secure location for further examination.