Amateur-built MODIFIED KR-Z accident near Panaca, Nevada, November 26, 1985
On November 26, 1985 at about 11:12 pm local time, a amateur-built MODIFIED KR-Z, registered N999TG, was destroyed in an accident near Panaca, Nevada (Panaca airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1985 · about 11:12 pm local time
- Place
- Panaca, Nevada · Panaca · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MODIFIED KR-Z MODIFIED K
- Registration
- N999TG · registry record · serial 100
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT CLIMB STRAIGHT AHEAD AND MAKE A SHALLOW LEFT 90 DEGREE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO RESUME LEVEL FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SLOWLY WEN INTO A BANK AND FELL OFF INTO A DIVE STRIKING THE GROUND. THIS WAS THE FIRST TEST FLIGHT FOR THIS AIRCRAFT. NO FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND IN THE AIRFRAME, POWER PLANT OR FLIGHT CONTROLS. NO STALL WARNING SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED ON THIS AIRCRAFT. ON AUTOPSY THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS OPINION WAS THAT THE PILOTS DEATH WAS CAUSED BY MULTIPLE EXTREME TRAUMATIC INJURIES. THE PILOT HAD HAD A CORONARY BYPASS OPERATION. THE PILOT PROBABLY ENTERED INTO A STALL DURING THE TURN TO DOWNWIND WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AVAILABLE FOR RECOVERY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 704 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 704 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 2, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L1 Pacana NV at 11:12 pm
- Destination: 1L1 Panaca NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,620 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 2 knots, gusting 4
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from ELY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 SEA86FVW01.