# NTSB WPR26FA019: Beech V35, Austin, NV, October 15, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: October 15, 2025, 14:47 local (21:47 UTC)
- Place: Austin, NV · Peak of Mt. Callaghan about 14 nm NE of Austin, NV
- Coordinates: 39.705981, -116.95188
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7060&lon=-116.9519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Admnistration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201879
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA019
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201879/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA019

## Preliminary report

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.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFETM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D9029
- Year built: 1969
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; None
- Departed: MWH, Moses Lake, WA
- Destination: RYN, Tucson, AZ

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Icing: Mixed
- Observed at: KTMT, 18 nm away
- METAR: METAR KTMT 152150Z AUTO 27006KT 10SM -RA SCT025 OVC033 06/03 A3001

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.

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