Six Killed in Plane Crash in Las Vegas

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A single-engine airplane crashed during takeoff at a North Las Vegas airport Thursday, killing all six people aboard, officials said.

The Beechcraft Bonanza had just lifted off at 1:21 p.m. when the pilot radioed an emergency and said he would try to return to the airport, said Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

At that point, the plane “lost lift ... and went nose in,” Kenitzer said.

The plane crashed about 10 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip. Four adults and two children were killed, said FAA safety inspector Ron Williams. There were no homes or businesses nearby.

Helicopter pilot Mike Miller was at a nearby gas station when he saw a black plume of smoke. After heading to the scene, he saw the airplane engulfed in flames. Passersby stopped, but Miller said the fire was too intense for anyone to do anything.

The National Transportation Safety Board was heading to the scene to investigate.

FAA records showed the aircraft was built in 1980 and was owned by Pat Car Air Inc. of Wilmington, Del.

The airport, which has three runways, primarily serves small planes and sightseeing flights to the Grand Canyon and other southern Nevada locations, along with corporate and private aircraft.