Beech 35 accident near Reno, Nevada, April 26, 1992
On April 26, 1992, a Beech 35, registered N3121V, was destroyed in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno Cannon International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1992
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno Cannon International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3121V · registry record · serial D545
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL AT 1720 WITH INFORMATION 'NOVEMBER' FOR RADAR SERVICE TO HIS DESTINATION. ATIS 'NOVEMBER' HAD BEEN RECORDED AT 1650 AND REPORTED THE WINDS AS 210 DEG AT 8 KTS. AT 1724, THE PILOT WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE TOWER. AT 1725, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 16 RIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT MADE A CONSTANT TURN FROM DOWNWIND TO FINAL. THE AIRPLANE OVERSHOT FINAL AND APPEARED TO STEEPEN ITS BANK. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN ACCELERATED STALL FROM A LOW ALTITUDE ON THE TURN TO FINAL, AND FELL TO THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. THE PILOT'S LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOWER RECORDED AT 1728:58 WAS WHEN HE SAID 'TWO ONE VICTOR'S.' THAT IS ABOUT THE TIME THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FALLING TO THE GROUND. A WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN AT 1731 REPORTED WINDS FROM 290 DEG AT 13 KTS. WITH WINDS FROM THAT DIRECTION, THE PILOT HAD A LEFT QUARTERING TAIL WIND ON BASE AND A RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND ON FINAL.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 971 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 772 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,094 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1991; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O04 Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 10,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:31 am from RNO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.