Beech C35 accident near Beckwourth, California, July 15, 2006
On July 15, 2006 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N715D, was destroyed in an accident near Beckwourth, California (Nervino Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2006 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Beckwourth, California · Nervino Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N715D · no longer on the register · serial D-2986
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost directional control on the landing roll, and veered off the runway into a ditch. He said that he executed a normal touchdown, but encountered a crosswind gust that made the airplane veer off the right side of the runway. While attempting to recover, the right main struck a runway light. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway about 100 feet into a deep storm drain. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot and passenger noticed a fire begin in the engine compartment. The door was jammed, so they exited through the left rear window. The post impact fire destroyed the airplane. The pilot said that line personnel responded, but the fire extinguisher was not charged. It took emergency (volunteer) services about 45 minutes to respond to the site. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Willits CA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Beckwourth CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,651 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from TRK, 32 miles away
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.
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.