# NTSB LAX95LA281: Beech V35B, N444DG, Minden, NV, August 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1995, 15:38 local (22:38 UTC) - Place: Minden, NV - Coordinates: 39.009967, -119.749847 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0100&lon=-119.7498&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29174/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA281 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of the wrong runway, improper decision to land with a quartering tail wind, and his improper compensation of the prevailing wind conditions. The gusting crosswind and tail wind were factors in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear strut - overload ## Analysis THE UNICOM OPERATOR TOLD THE PILOT THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM THE WEST AT 20 KNOTS GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS AND SUGGESTED RUNWAY 16. RUNWAYS 30 AND 34 WERE AVAILABLE. THE PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY 16 AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE KNEW HE SHOULD HAVE LANDED ON EITHER RUNWAY 30 OR 34. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 1995, at 1538 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35B, N444DG, exited the right side of runway 16 and collapsed the nose gear at Douglas County Airport, Minden, Nevada. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor the three passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Coeur D'Alene Airport, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, at 1230 hours. The pilot said in a telephone interview conducted on August 16, 1995, that he called the unicom when the flight was 10 miles north of the airport. The unicom operator reported the winds to be from the west at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots, and suggested runway 16. The pilot stated he lost directional control during the landing roll and the nose gear collapsed when it entered the soft/rough terrain. He also said that the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures. The pilot repeated his telephone statement in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. He added, however, that he should have landed on runway 30 or 34. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N444DG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444DG), registered now, S/N D-9882 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-9882 - Airframe hours: 2970 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Howard L. Mahieu - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1995, 110 hours before - Departed: COE, COEUR D'ALENE, ID - Destination: MEV - Airport: MEV, Douglas County Airport, runway 16, 7,395 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,200 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 7,100 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19950806046859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950806046859I), Aug 6, 1995: Beech V35B, Minden, NV, Minor damage. Narrative: the pilot indicated receiving an airport advisory with winds reported from the west and powered aircraft using runway 16, avoiding glider traffic… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.