Douglas County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minden, Nevada 89423
Sunday, August 6, 1995 15:38 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1538
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MINDEN
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89423
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DOUGLAS COUNTY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MEV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4718
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1122
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1922
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N444DG
NTSB Number LAX95LA281
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier V35B
Aircraft Serial Number D-9882
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 10 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 110
Airframe Hours 2970
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HOWARD L. MAHIEU
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2246
Aircraft Owner City STATELINE
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89449
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code COE
Departure City COEUR D'ALENE
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MEV
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 7395
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --