Beech V35B accident near Minden, Nevada, August 6, 1995
On August 6, 1995 at about 10:38 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N444DG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Nevada (Douglas County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of the wrong runway, improper decision to land with a quartering tail wind, and his improper compensation of the prevailing wind conditions. The gusting crosswind and tail wind were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1995 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Douglas County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N444DG · registry record · serial D-9882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE UNICOM OPERATOR TOLD THE PILOT THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM THE WEST AT 20 KNOTS GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS AND SUGGESTED RUNWAY 16. RUNWAYS 30 AND 34 WERE AVAILABLE. THE PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY 16 AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE KNEW HE SHOULD HAVE LANDED ON EITHER RUNWAY 30 OR 34.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 7,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1995; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COE Coeur D'Alene ID at 7:30 pm
- Destination: MEV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 7,395 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.