Beech 65 accident near Elko, Nevada, November 2, 1988
On November 2, 1988 at about 10:53 pm local time, a Beech 65, registered N9AG, was destroyed in an accident near Elko, Nevada (Elko airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- November 2, 1988 · about 10:53 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65 · all 65s on the register
- Registration
- N9AG · no longer on the register · serial LC-51
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROX 10 MIN AFTER T/O, THE PILOT STATED HE WAS RETURNING TO LAND DUE TO A PROBLEM. ON FINAL THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED AND DESCENDED NOSE DOWN INTO A RESIDENCE. ENGINE EXAM REVEALED A FAILED SUPERCHARGER INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT GEAR RESULTING IN LOSS OF SUPERCHARGER ON THE RT ENGINE. THE ACFT WAS APPROX 300 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT. THE LNDG GEAR WAS DOWN AND THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED APPROX 20 DEGREES. THE LEFT THROTTLE WAS FOUND IN THE FULL FORWARD (HIGH POWER) POSITION. THE RT PROP CONTROL WAS IN FULL DECREASE RPM, HIGH PITCH AND THE RT ENG MAG SWITCHES WERE OFF. WITNESSES HAD OBSERVED THE ACFT DESCEND TO BELOW TRAFFIC PATTERN ALT. AT APPROX 200 FT AGL A LOUD ENG NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE SLOW FLYING ACFT PITCHED UP, ROLLED RT AND DESCENDED VERTICALLY ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE PLT HAD NOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY OR DEFINED HIS PROBLEM. THE PLT'S LAST RECORDED FLT IN THE BE-65 WAS IN FEB 1988. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A CHECK-OUT OR FLIGHT TRAINING IN THE ACFT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 884 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 748 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,945 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1988; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,700 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IGSO-480-A1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 10:40 pm
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 6,400 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from EKO, 1 miles away
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.