Beech 35 accident near Minden, Nevada, May 5, 2019
On May 5, 2019 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 1962 Beech 35, registered N1510S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Minden, Nevada (Minden-Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial extension of the landing gear due to the poor condition of the electric landing gear motor, which resulted in a gear collapse upon landing.
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 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Minden-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 P35, built 1962 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N1510S · registry record · serial D-6940
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the approach for landing was uneventful, and he selected the landing gear lever to the extended position. When the airplane touched down, the landing gear collapsed. The landing gear circuit breaker was found in the out position during postaccident examination. The airplane was placed on jacks and a gear swing test was conducted. During the test, the electric motor that drove the landing gear was noted to be "weak"; gear retraction was slow and the gear would only partially extend. No other anomalies in the landing gear system were noted. The cockpit landing gear lever, landing gear indications, and warning audio functioned properly during the test; thus, the pilot should have been alerted to the partial extension of the landing gear.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,052 hours in all; 52.7 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,052 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 12, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,793 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 1,688 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E79 Fresno CA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: MEV Minden NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,399 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KMEV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | 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.