Beech V-35 accident near Minden, Nevada, July 27, 1991
On July 27, 1991 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech V-35, registered N2037W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADJUST THE MIXTURE SETTING PRIOR TO LANDING TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1991 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V-35 · all V-35s on the register
- Registration
- N2037W · registry record · serial D-7980
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE COMPLETING A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, WITH THE ENGINE AT A LOW POWER SETTING, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND ELECTED TO LAND, GEAR UP, IN A FIELD 1500 FEET SHORT OF THE DESTINATION RUNWAY. THE PILOT COMMENTED THAT PERHAPS THE MIXTURE WAS POSSIBLY 'TOO' LEAN. SUBSEQUENT TESTING OF THE ENGINE, AND FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS, FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN DENIED BY THE FAA SINCE 1986.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,245 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 3,140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,605 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 1990; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from RNO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.