Globe GC-1B accident near Jean, Nevada, December 31, 1996
On December 31, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N3325K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jean, Nevada (Jean airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to maintain directional control of the aircraft, and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. A factor in the accident was the limited conventional gear experience of both pilots.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3325K · registry record · serial 1318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft owner just purchased the aircraft and had no conventional gear experience. He retained the flight instructor to provide dual instruction in the aircraft. According to FAA inspectors, the flight instructor had very limited experience in conventional gear aircraft. FAA inspectors interviewed both pilots. According to the pilot's statements, during the takeoff ground roll, the owner/pilot lifted the tail early then lost directional control. The instructor attempted to regain control but was unsuccessful prior to the aircraft veering off the right side of the 4,600-foot-long runway, traveling about 300 feet, and colliding with a berm at the side of a perpendicular drainage culvert. The collision with the berm separated the right main landing gear. The aircraft then continued for some distance, collided with a sign, and spun to a stop in the dirt.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,100 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 7,600 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,695 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1996; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,725 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L15 Henderson NV at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.