NTSB report: Pilot declared emergency in Boulder City crash

By ROCHEL LEAH GOLDBLATT LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

11 years ago

Emergency vehicles are seen at the site of a single engine plane crash, Sunday June 23. Two fatalities are reported in the tragedy.

A Clark County Coroner Supervisor turns off Rt. 95 in Boulder City to begin the approximate one mile trek through the desert to the site of a single engine plane crash, Sunday June 23. Two fatalities are reported in the tragedy. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident which happened around 3:15 PM local time.

A 2010 file photo shows the Beechcraft T-34 that crashed short of the Boulder City airport, killing Nevada Army National Guard Soldiers Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Edwards IV, 41, and Pfc. Cody Allen Hall, 23 on Sunday, June 23. Both soldiers were assigned to Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 3/140th Security and Support unit based at the North Las Vegas Airport.

The National Transportation and Safety Board released a preliminary report Monday into the June 23 airplane crash a mile from the Boulder City airport runway that left two Nevada Army National Guardsmen dead.

Certified pilot and instructor Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Edwards, 41, was flying the Beech A45. He and passenger Pfc. Cody Hall, 23, were not on official military business.

Mid-flight, about 2:45 p.m., Edwards radioed Las Vegas and requested priority landing due to an engine chip light that had turned on. Shortly after, he declared an emergency and attempted a landing at Boulder City Municipal Airport.

The plane, which was registered to and operated by Jet Test and Transport LLC took off from Chandler, Ariz., and was heading toward North Las Vegas Airport. There was no flight plan filed, and weather conditions showed winds of 25 mph and gusts over 30 mph, according to the report.

The debris path from the plane crash, which killed Edwards and Hall, was 80 feet wide and long. The plane, painted to look like a vintage military plane, sustained significant damage.

Contact Rochel Leah Goldblatt at rgoldblatt@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381.