Beech 36 accident near Reno, Nevada, May 5, 2019
On May 5, 2019 at about 2:15 am local time, a 1979 Beech 36, registered N6684Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Tahoe Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2019 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Tahoe Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 A36, built 1979 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N6684Z · no longer on the register · serial E-1611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the airplane in gusty wind conditions when he lost directional control of the airplane. After touchdown, the airplane veered off the runway to the left, despite the pilot’s corrective inputs. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway, struck two runway signs, and spun to the right before coming to a stop. An examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel would not center and that it pointed to the right. Impact damage was visible on the nosewheel strut assembly. Additionally, when the right rudder pedal was pushed to the full position, the right rudder was about 5° from full deflection. It could not be determined whether these anomalies were impact related. The airplane would have had right turning tendencies if the nosewheel condition existed during the landing. The pilot would have had less rudder authority available to counter the left turning tendencies if the rudder condition existed during landing. No other mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were observed. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing in strong, gusty wind conditions.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,789 hours in all; 2,330 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,553.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 25, 6,102 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 25, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Manual Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.