Truckee-Tahoe Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Truckee, California 95734
Tuesady, October 8, 1996 20:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While turning on the final approach, with the landing gear extended, the pilot switched the fuel tanks' selector handles from the auxiliary fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks. Shortly thereafter, both engines sustained a total loss of power. The pilot turned on the boost pumps to restart both engines, but without success. During the ensuing emergency landing, the pilot did not retract the landing gear or feather both propellers. The airplane landed about 450 feet short of the runway. The postaccident examination of the airplane disclosed that both main fuel tanks were empty. Neither the main fuel tanks nor their associated components were compromised during the impact sequence.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and fuel consumption calculations resulting in fuel exhaustion. The pilot's failure to switch the fuel tanks to the auxiliary position and feather both propellers were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2045
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TRUCKEE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95734
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TRUCKEE-TAHOE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TRK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 100
Airport Elevation 5900
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID TRK
Elevation of weather observation facility 5900
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1730
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 8 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2144
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7833Q
NTSB Number LAX97LA012
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 310Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 310Q
Aircraft Serial Number 310Q0615
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 2 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 3600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WINTHROP G. DALE, DVM
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 4300
Aircraft Owner City INCLINE VILLAGE
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89450
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RNO
Departure City RENO
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 2030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TRK
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 28
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --