Beech A24R accident near Ely, Nevada, May 13, 1989
On May 13, 1989 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Beech A24R, registered N8049R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ely, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO IMC. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE SNOW, OBSCURATION AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1989 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A24R · all A24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8049R · no longer on the register · serial MC44
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT PROCEEDED INTO DETERIORATING WX CONDS AND BECAME TRAPPED IN A VALLEY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE FOLLOWING ROAD TO A MOUNTAIN PASS, HE ENCOUNTERED SNOW AND LOST GROUND CONTACT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A BLIND COURSE REVERSAL AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 493 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 466 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 7:30 pm
- Destination: BLD Boulder City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.