Amateur-built GC-1B and Textron Aviation Cessna T206H mid-air collision near Minden, Nevada, September 16, 2024
On September 16, 2024 at about 4:46 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built GC-1B (N78074) and Textron Aviation Cessna T206H (N844CP), were involved in a mid-air collision near Minden, Nevada (Minden-Tahoe airport). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane while operating in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in a midair collision.
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane while operating in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in a midair collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2024 · about 4:46 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Minden-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built GC-1B, built 1946
- Registration
- N78074 · registry record · serial 2074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Textron Aviation Cessna T206H Station Ai, built 2019
- Registration
- N844CP · registry record · serial T20609587
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built GC-1B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A high-winged Cessna and low-winged Swift collided in midair while operating in the traffic pattern for the same destination runway. The Cessna had completed a touch-and-go landing and was climbing on the left crosswind leg toward the traffic pattern altitude. The Swift was approaching the airport from the northwest/west on a southeast-bound 45° intercept to the left downwind leg off the traffic pattern. About 17 seconds before the presumed collision time, the Swift pilot transmitted on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency that he was entering the area on a 45° intercept to the downwind leg. The Cessna pilots subsequently began scanning for the Swift, and the right-seated pilot also checked the traffic display. The Swift was not equipped with ADS-B, no traffic target was displayed in the Cessna, and neither Cessna pilot visually acquired the Swift before impact. The Cessna pilots did not state their position after completing the touch-and-go until after the Swift pilot made a transmission of his position, which was just before impact. If the Cessna pilots had made an earlier position transmission it may have given the Swift pilot an opportunity to make visual contact while approaching the airport. Recorded data from the Cessna, video evidence, and the physical contact signatures on both airplanes were consistent with the Cessna climbing into the Swift from below and aft. Video evidence showed the Swift slightly above the Cessna immediately before the collision. The Cessna’s forward engine and propeller area contacted the lower aft fuselage and tailwheel area of the Swift, resulting in separation of portions of the Swift’s tail section. The relative positions of the airplanes would have placed the Cessna in or near the Swift pilot’s aft blind area. Although the Swift would have been ahead of and slightly above the Cessna during the closing sequence, its limited relative motion against the background likely reduced its visibility to the Cessna pilots. The available evidence was consistent with the pilots of both airplanes not visually acquiring the other airplane in sufficient time to avoid the collision.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Textron Aviation Cessna T206H final · quoted from the NTSB record
A high-winged Cessna and low-winged Swift collided in midair while operating in the traffic pattern for the same destination runway. The Cessna had completed a touch-and-go landing and was climbing on the left crosswind leg toward the traffic pattern altitude. The Swift was approaching the airport from the northwest/west on a southeast-bound 45° intercept to the left downwind leg off the traffic pattern. About 17 seconds before the presumed collision time, the Swift pilot transmitted on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency that he was entering the area on a 45° intercept to the downwind leg. The Cessna pilots subsequently began scanning for the Swift, and the right-seated pilot also checked the traffic display. The Swift was not equipped with ADS-B, no traffic target was displayed in the Cessna, and neither Cessna pilot visually acquired the Swift before impact. The Cessna pilots did not state their position after completing the touch-and-go until after the Swift pilot made a transmission of his position, which was just before impact. If the Cessna pilots had made an earlier position transmission it may have given the Swift pilot an opportunity to make visual contact while approaching the airport. Recorded data from the Cessna, video evidence, and the physical contact signatures on both airplanes were consistent with the Cessna climbing into the Swift from below and aft. Video evidence showed the Swift slightly above the Cessna immediately before the collision. The Cessna’s forward engine and propeller area contacted the lower aft fuselage and tailwheel area of the Swift, resulting in separation of portions of the Swift’s tail section. The relative positions of the airplanes would have placed the Cessna in or near the Swift pilot’s aft blind area. Although the Swift would have been ahead of and slightly above the Cessna during the closing sequence, its limited relative motion against the background likely reduced its visibility to the Cessna pilots. The available evidence was consistent with the pilots of both airplanes not visually acquiring the other airplane in sufficient time to avoid the collision.
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 for the amateur-built GC-1B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NV55 Gardnerville NV at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 7,399 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KMEV, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMEV 161655Z AUTO 34010KT 10SM FEW060 BKN070 15/M03 A2983 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Textron Aviation Cessna T206H from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,570 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,570 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: None (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,596 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,466 as pilot in command; 879 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 5, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 576.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 2024; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,789 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 581 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on August 19, 2026. 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 | Investigative Supplemental Material | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Reconstructed Dashcam Video with Ctaf Message | video · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120 | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Cessna Pilot's Records of Conversations | PDF, 16 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Cessna Pilots' Initial Statements to Law Enforcement | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Records of Conversations | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Cessna Flight Track | map file · our copy | Download |
| 8 | Cessna Flight Path Tabular Data | data file · our copy | Download |
| 9 | Cap Prior Flights | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | Swift Prior Flight | map file · our copy | Download |
| 11 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
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.