Aeronca O-58B accident near Minden, Nevada, January 29, 1989
On January 29, 1989 at about 6:06 pm local time, a Aeronca O-58B, registered N48688, was destroyed in an accident near Minden, Nevada. It was a personal 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND AIRPLANE CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND MOUNTAIN WAVE CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1989 · about 6:06 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca O-58B
- Registration
- N48688 · no longer on the register · serial 11903
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, PLT EXPERIENCED STRONG HEADWIND ON LEE SIDE OF CREST (MOUNTAIN WAVE). THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE FLYING AT A SLOW GROUNDSPEED 100-150 FT ABOVE THE TERRAIN BEFORE IT STALLED AND SPUN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,138 hours in all; 364 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,943 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,138 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 17, 1988; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVF Placerville CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: B08 Silver Springs NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from TVL, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.