Moravan Z242L and Beech E35 accident near Jean, Nevada, June 5, 1997
On June 5, 1997 at about 8:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Moravan Z242L (N7ZA) and Beech E35 (N7354B), were involved in the same accident near Jean, Nevada (Jean airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot of the Beech E35, N7354, inadequate preflight planning/preparation and lack of familiarity with the aircraft which led to his attempt to taxi from a seat without brake controls.
The pilot of the Beech E35, N7354, inadequate preflight planning/preparation and lack of familiarity with the aircraft which led to his attempt to taxi from a seat without brake controls.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1997 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Moravan Z242L · all Z242Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7ZA · registry record · serial 0694
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech E35 · all E35s on the register
- Registration
- N7354B · no longer on the register · serial D3817
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Moravan Z242L final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to take aerial photograph's of the Moravan Z242L, N7ZA, from the Beech E35, N7354B, with the Moravan as the lead plane on takeoff. The pilot of the Moravan announced his intentions over Unicom and proceeded to taxi. The pilot of the Moravan noticed the Beech had begun to pull forward and that there appeared to be no braking action from the other pilot. Prior to the taxi, the cameraman in the Beech asked to sit in the left seat. The pilot moved the control yoke over to the right side and visually checked the right side rudder pedals and ascertained that they looked capable for braking because of the similar appearance to the left side rudder pedals. Prior to the accident, the pilot of the Beech had attended a 2-hour seminar for this aircraft and no brake idiosyncrasies had been mentioned. After engine start, as he was looking at the checklist, the pilot noticed that his aircraft was moving forward. He attempted to stop the aircraft before it collided with the Moravan, but was unable to make the brakes function. There are no brakes installed on the right side rudder pedals of the Beech.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech E35 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to take aerial photograph's of the Moravan Z242L, N7ZA, from the Beech E35, N7354B, with the Moravan as the lead plane on takeoff. The pilot of the Moravan announced his intentions over Unicom and proceeded to taxi. The pilot of the Moravan noticed the Beech had begun to pull forward and that there appeared to be no braking action from the other pilot. Prior to the taxi, the cameraman in the Beech asked to sit in the left seat. The pilot moved the control yoke over to the right side and visually checked the right side rudder pedals and ascertained that they looked capable for braking because of the similar appearance to the left side rudder pedals. Prior to the accident, the pilot of the Beech had attended a 2-hour seminar for this aircraft and no brake idiosyncrasies had been mentioned. After engine start, as he was looking at the checklist, the pilot noticed that his aircraft was moving forward. He attempted to stop the aircraft before it collided with the Moravan, but was unable to make the brakes function. There are no brakes installed on the right side rudder pedals of the Beech.
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 for the Moravan Z242L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,130 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 2,850 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 156 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1997; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0L7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 185° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from LAS, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech E35 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 322 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 247 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,455 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1997; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,935 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0L7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX97LA200.