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Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 Accident (N5532)

Reno-Tahoe (ex Cannon), United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On January 21, 1985, a Lockheed L-188 Electra (registration N5532) operated by Galaxy Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Reno-Tahoe (ex Cannon), United States of America during landing or approach. 70 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The captain's failure to control and the co-pilot's failure to monitor the flight path and airspeed of the aircraft. This breakdown in crew coordination followed the onset of unexpected vibration shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N5532
Aircraft registered N5532. Photo: Unknown photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A Galaxy Airlines L-188A Electra crashed after takeoff from Reno due to vibration caused by an open air start door. The captain reduced power, leading to a stall. One of 71 occupants survived.

Flight Details and Departure Delayed by Ground Issue Galaxy Airlines Flight 203, a Lockheed L-188A Electra with registration N5532, was part of a multi-leg route from Seattle to Oakland, Reno, Minneapolis, and back to Seattle. The initial leg from Seattle to Oakland was delayed, departing at 20:19 and arriving at 22:25. After servicing in Reno, the ground handler supervisor signaled the crew to start engines. However, after engines one and four were running, a ground handler could not disconnect the air start hose, which was stretched taut from the power cart to the air start access panel on the underside of the right wing leading edge. The supervisor gave an emergency stop signal and disconnected the hose. Neither ground crew member remembered closing the air start access door.

Probable cause

The captain's failure to control and the co-pilot's failure to monitor the flight path and airspeed of the aircraft. This breakdown in crew coordination followed the onset of unexpected vibration shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the failure of ground handlers to properly close an air start access door, which led to the vibration.

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