Beech V35 accident near Austin, Nevada, October 15, 2025
On October 15, 2025 at about 9:47 pm local time, a 1969 Beech V35, registered CFETM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2025 · about 9:47 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35, built 1969 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- CFETM · no longer on the register · serial D9029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 15, 2025, about 1447 Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35, C-FETM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Austin, Nevada. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed West Kootenay Regional Airport (YCG), Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, about 0903, flew southwest, and arrived at Grant County International Airport (MWH), Moses Lake, Washington, about 1003. The airplane departed MWH about 1149, flew south/southeast and climbed to an altitude of 9,300 ft mean sea level (msl). About 1345, the airplane initiated a climb to 12,000 ft msl, then flew between 11,100 ft msl and 12,400 ft msl for the remainder of the flight track data. About 1414, the airplane turned to the southwest. About 1419, the airplane began a turn toward the southeast and remained on a southeasterly heading until the end of the flight track data. The data ended about 7 miles northwest of the accident site and showed the airplane at an altitude of 11,100 ft msl. On October 16, 2025, at 1331, an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued, following reports from family members, that the airplane was overdue. The wreckage was subsequently located later that day by a private citizen who volunteered to search by air, about 16 miles northeast of Austin, Nevada, at an elevation of 10,195 ft msl. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted mountainous terrain near the top of Mt. Callaghan, on the western slope of the mountain near the peak. The debris field was about 992 ft in length and was oriented on a magnetic heading of 147° from the first identified point of contact (FIPC) to the main wreckage, and a magnetic heading of 172° from the main wreckage to the end of the debris field. The main wreckage was located about 574 ft from the FIPC and came to rest inverted on a magnetic heading of about 270°, on the eastern slope of the mountain. All major structural components of the airplane were observed throughout the debris field. (See figure 1.) Figure 1. Debris field at accident site. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
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
- 402000 during 402
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: MWH Moses Lake WA at 6:49 pm
- Destination: RYN Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft; scattered at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°C, dew point 37°C
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from KTMT, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTMT 152150Z AUTO 27006KT 10SM -RA SCT025 OVC033 06/03 A3001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26FA019.