South Lake Takhoe Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

So. Lake Tahoe, California 96158
Thursday, December 31, 1992 12:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED FROM THE AIRPORT AND FLEW OUT OVER THE LAKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB ABOVE THE CLOUDS SURROUNDING THE LAKE BASIN. AFTER ASCERTAINING THAT THE CLOUD TOPS WERE HIGHER THAN FORECAST, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE BEGAN PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT SAID HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER IT ENCOUNTERED A PATCH OF BLACK ICE ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. A RESPONDING FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND THE RUNWAY AND REPORTED FINDING PATCHES OF BLACK ICE ON THE SIDES OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO GUSTING CROSS WINDS AND ICE ON THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/31/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SO. LAKE TAHOE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96158
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOUTH LAKE TAKHOE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TVL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 6264
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1230 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID TVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 6324
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 949
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 31 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1720
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52007
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9511M
NTSB Number LAX93LA085
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20F
Aircraft Series Identifier M20F
Aircraft Serial Number 670088
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Jun 5 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 2860
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MCCANTS, FROME, DOWNING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20007 CLEAR RIVER LANE
Aircraft Owner City YORBA LINDA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92686
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES DOWNING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 15 INDIAN HILL LANE
Operator City LAGUNA HILLS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92653
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code TVL
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SNA
Destination City SANTA ANA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 8544
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --