Beech K35 accident near Gerlach, Nevada, August 30, 2003
On August 30, 2003 at about 7:11 pm local time, a Beech K35, registered N5343E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gerlach, Nevada (Temporary Dirt Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed resulting in a stall mush and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2003 · about 7:11 pm local time
- Place
- Gerlach, Nevada · Temporary Dirt Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech K35 · all K35s on the register
- Registration
- N5343E · registry record · serial D-5828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with terrain during landing at a temporary dirt strip. Witnesses on the ground, including licensed pilots, reported that the airplane was turning on a right base to final when the right wing abruptly dropped and the airplane descended to the ground. The airplane immediately struck the ground. They stated that the airplane seemed very low and very slow for this phase of flight. Examination of the wreckage found no discrepancies with the airframe systems or the engine.
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
- Flight time: 266 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 22, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,775 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2003; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,130 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gerlach NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from RNO, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX03LA270.