Cessna 411 accident near Fallon, Nevada, September 3, 1990
On September 3, 1990 at about 7:44 pm local time, a Cessna 411, registered N7321U, was destroyed in an accident near Fallon, Nevada (Fallon Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER (INCLUDING HIS FAILURE TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER OF THE AFFECTED ENGINE). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE, CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND OVERHEAT FAILURE OF THE #1 AND #4 PISTONS IN THE RIGHT ENGINE (FROM PREIGNITION OR DETONATION).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1990 · about 7:44 pm local time
- Place
- Fallon, Nevada · Fallon Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 411 · all 411s on the register
- Registration
- N7321U · no longer on the register · serial 411 0021
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD RECENTLY BEEN RETURNED TO SVC AFTER 5 YRS IN STORAGE. ON THIS FLT, IT WAS BEING USED TO TRANSPORT TWO POLITICAL CANDIDATES ON THEIR CAMPAIGN ITINERARY. DRG TAKEOFF FROM RWY 3, THE RGT ENG LOST PWR ON THE INITIAL CLIMB & THE ACFT DSCNDD & CRASHED ABT 2 MI SE OF THE ARPT. THE PLT DID NOT COMPLETE THE EMERG PROC FOR AN ENG FAILURE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT HE DID NOT FEATHER THE PROP, DID NOT BANK INTO THE GOOD ENG, AND DID NOT CLOSE THE COWL FLAPS ON THE INOP ENG. AN EXAM OF THE RGT ENG DISCLOSED OVERHEATING & ERROSION OF THE #1 & #4 PISTONS, WHICH RESULTED IN HOLES IN THE TOP EDGES OF THE PISTONS. ALSO, THERE WERE CLOGGED FUEL INJECTORS, CONTAMINATION & CORROSION OF THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP, AND CONTAMINATION & PARTIAL OBSTRUCTION OF THE MANIFOLD VALVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE CTRL OF THE TURBOCHARGER WAS FOUND TO BE INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED. THE PLT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 8/13/86.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,398 hours in all; 88 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,720 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1990; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLX at 6:43 pm
- Destination: 004 Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,600 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from NFL, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.