Curtis-Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 accident near Reno, Nevada, June 14, 2000
On June 14, 2000 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Curtis-Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000, registered N6425, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Tahoe International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery technique and failure to maintain directional control in a quartering tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2000 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Tahoe International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtis-Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 TRAVEL AIR
- Registration
- N6425 · registry record · serial 766
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost directional control of his 1928 Curtis-Wright Travel Air 4000 following a bounced touchdown on runway 16L, which is 9,000 feet long and 150 feet wide. A wing contacted the runway and the airplane veered 30 degrees left. It departed the runway and collided with a precision approach path indicator light fixture following which it nosed over. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced with the operation of the airplane. About the time of the accident, the reported wind was from 300 degrees at 4 to 6 knots. In the pilot's completed accident report, he recalled that the wind's direction was variable, and its speed was 6 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 776 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 597 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,587 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 14, 1999; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Placerville CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: RNO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16L, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 203°F (95°C), dew point 106°F (41°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from RNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6425 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.