Piper PA-31-350 accident near Sparks, Nevada, August 16, 1985
On August 16, 1985 at about 5:47 am local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N27476, was destroyed in an accident near Sparks, Nevada. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1985 · about 5:47 am local time
- Place
- Sparks, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N27476 · registry record · serial 317852022
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT EXHAUSTED FUEL ENROUTE TO DESTINATION DURING CROSS COUN TRY NIGHT FLGT. PLT ADVISED ATCT OF LOSS OF ENGINES ABOUT 20 MILES OUT. PLT MADE DEADSTICK LANDING ON HWY, STRUCK BRIDGE DIVIDER. NO FIRE OR REPORTED INJURES. INSPECTION DISCLOSED DRY FUEL TANKS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,244 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 199 in the last 90 days; 5,019 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,926 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 10, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming T10540J2VD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELY Ely NV at 4:24 am
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:57 am from RNO, 4 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.