Beech H35 accident near Reno, Nevada, June 7, 2006
On June 7, 2006 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N5455D, was destroyed in an accident near Reno, Nevada. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a house. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2006 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N5455D · no longer on the register · serial D-4956
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine lost power during takeoff and the airplane collided with a house while returning to the airport. A certified flight instructor (CFI) and the airplane's owner (a student pilot) were onboard. The airplane climbed to 6,500 feet mean sea level after takeoff and was about 4 miles from the airport when a loss of engine power was reported. The CFI reported to air traffic control that the airplane would not be able to make it back to the airport and they were trying to find a safe place to land. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low with the wings rocking back and forth, prior to entering a sharp left turn. The airplane then rolled to the left, nosed down, and impacted the house. Post accident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical anomalies, and the reason for the power loss was not determined. The student pilot's toxicological report showed positive results for metabolites of cocaine; however, it was unclear if or how the student pilot's use of cocaine contributed to the accident. Although the FAA was aware that the student had a history of felony conviction for substance possession, they did not obtain records to determine the circumstances of that conviction or to determine the identification of the substance.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 10,775 as pilot in command; 11,481 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,504.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-470-G-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 10:00 pm
- Destination: L66 Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from RNO, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.