Beech S35 accident near Lovelock, Nevada, June 4, 1993
On June 4, 1993 at about 2:52 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N5865J, was destroyed in an accident near Lovelock, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S CONTINUATION OF VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1993 · about 2:52 pm local time
- Place
- Lovelock, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N5865J · no longer on the register · serial D-7864
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE 0356 WEATHER BRIEFING, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR NEVADA WHICH INCLUDED MODERATE TURBULENCE, OCCASIONAL MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT, OCCASIONAL MODERATE RIME OR MIXED ICING, AND SOME CEILINGS BELOW 1,000 FT AND VISIBILITY BELOW 3 MI. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED IN THE MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT AREA. THE PILOT ASKED ABOUT THE WEATHER ON AN ALTERNATE ROUTE AND WAS TOLD THAT ROUTE HAD MANY OF THE SAME PRECAUTIONS. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED LAS VEGAS AT 0507, AND THERE IS NO RECORD OF ANY COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PILOT AND ATC. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND AT THE 8,000-FT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN. WITNESSES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED CEILINGS ABOUT 400 FT AND MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 866 hours in all; 635 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 801 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,456 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1992; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 12:07 pm
- Destination: PSC Pasco WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from LOL, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.