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2009 Cessna 320D Accident at Fallon Municipal Airport (N320KP)

Fallon, NV, United States

On May 23, 2009, a CESSNA 320D (registration N320KP) was involved in an aviation accident near Fallon, NV. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s inadequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 11 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

On May 22, 2009, a Cessna 320D, N320KP, crashed into terrain near Fallon, Nevada, during landing. The commercial pilot and three passengers were killed in the accident.

Accident Overview and Flight History On May 22, 2009, at approximately 1935 Pacific Daylight Time, a Cessna 320D, registration N320KP, impacted terrain during a landing at Fallon Municipal Airport (FLX) in Fallon, Nevada. The owner/pilot was operating the aircraft under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage from impact forces and a post-crash fire. The cross-country personal flight departed Fresno, California, around 1830, with Fallon as the planned destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. Witnesses reported observing the aircraft approach from the southwest and cross the mid-field to enter the downwind leg for runway 21. The aircraft made a right 270-degree turn to the downwind leg. At a base turn point, it executed a sharp left turn and descended out of sight, followed by a fireball in the accident area.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintainedAirspeed — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Response/compensation
Loss of control in flight

Related events

Same aircraft family

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 23 May 2009 CESSNA 320D accident near Fallon, NV?

On May 22, 2009, a Cessna 320D, N320KP, crashed into terrain near Fallon, Nevada, during landing. The commercial pilot and three passengers were killed in the accident.

Were there any fatalities in the 23 May 2009 CESSNA 320D accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 4 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 23 May 2009 involved a CESSNA 320D, registration N320KP, at Fallon, NV.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s inadequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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