A dramatic general aviation emergency unfolded on Thursday, October 22, 2026, when a single-engine Seawind 3000 amphibious aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on Interstate 80 westbound in Storey County, Nevada — just minutes after departing Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
According to the Storey County Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the aircraft departed Reno at approximately 7:42 a.m. local time and came down on the freeway near Mile Marker 28, between the Patrick and Tracy-Clark exits, only seven minutes into its flight. Heavy rain and low clouds were reported in the area at the time.
Remarkably, no injuries were reported — neither to the sole pilot on board nor to any motorists on the road. The aircraft avoided a collision with passing vehicles and came to rest across the westbound travel lanes. All westbound lanes were closed for several hours before reopening around 10:50 a.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) both responded to the scene and have launched a formal investigation. A retired FAA inspector noted that the Seawind 3000 is an experimental aircraft with multiple systems on board, and that the investigation — covering airworthiness, aircraft configuration, and weather factors — could take up to a year to complete.
Source: The Nevada Globe | KOLO TV