Ayres accident near Elko, Nevada, February 18, 2000
On February 18, 2000 at about 3:48 pm local time, a Ayres, registered N4011Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the ensuing forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2000 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres
- Registration
- N4011Y · no longer on the register · serial 2539R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single engine aerial application airplane made an off-airport forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after departing on a positioning flight. The accident airplane was the first in a flight of two. The pilot of the second airplane noticed a puff of black smoke emanating from the first airplane prior to the forced landing. The pilot landed the airplane on up sloping terrain covered with sagebrush and juniper trees. Examination of the turboprop engine at the manufacturer's facility revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The engine displayed evidence of rotation in a low power range at the time of terrain impact. The reason for the loss of engine power that precipitated the forced landing could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,748 hours in all; 1,360 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 19, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,469 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 27, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 8,276 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Charter Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 3:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from EKO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.