Cessna T21OL accident near Verdi, Nevada, March 1, 1982
On March 1, 1982 at about 2:38 am local time, a Cessna T21OL, registered N93338, was destroyed in an accident near Verdi, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1982 · about 2:38 am local time
- Place
- Verdi, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T21OL
- Registration
- N93338 · no longer on the register · serial 21060367
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE ACFT'S DEPARTURE FROM TRUCKEE-TAHOE ARPT, AN INBOUND PLT RECOMMENDED VIA RADIO THAT THE FLT NOT GO BECAUSE HE HAD JUST FLOWN THRU THE DONNER PASS & THE WX WAS TERRIBLE. HE REPORTED THE WIND 25-35K, GUSTING 40-45K. THE FLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED PIREPS, AREA FORECASTS & SIGMETS CONTAINING MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE. THE FLT DEPARTED TRUCKEE AT APRX 1800 & AT 1818 ESTIMATED THEIR POSITION 20 MI NORTH OF TRUCKEE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 9,000 FT. AT 1826 ATC ADVISED THE FLT THAT THEY STILL WERE NOT PICKING HIM UP ON RADAR & FOR HIM TO PROCEED TO INTECEPT V6N AIRWAY. AT 1835 THE FLT REPORTED UPON REQUEST THEY HAD NOT YET PASSED TRUCKEE INTERSECTION. AT 1837:20 THE FLIGHT REPORTED THEY WERE GOING TO TURN & TRY TO MAKE IT BACK TO RENO. AT 1837:38 THE FLT TRANSMITTED A MAYDAY. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 4 MI NORTH OF VERDI ON A SLOPE OF PEARVINE MOUNTAIN.
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: 438 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,915 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H-4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TRK Truckee CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 136°F (58°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from RND, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.