Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Verdi, Nevada 89439
Monday, July 4, 1988 14:03 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ON THE LEEWARD SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE. WIND VELOCITIES WERE REPORTED TO BE 20 KNOTS GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. OTHER PILOTS REPORTED EXTREME DOWNDRAFTS IN THE ACCIDENT AREA ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BIENNAL FLIGHT REVIEW AS REQUIRED BY THE FARS. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE ROUTE TWICE IN THE PAST, BUT OVER TWO YRS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE PRIOR TO NEGOTIATING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH FORECAST HIGH WINDS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE WEATHER PHENOMENA KNOWN AS 'MOUNTAIN WAVE' WHICH CREATED DOWNDRAFTS THAT EXCEEDED THE AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1988
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1403
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VERDI
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89439
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 256
Weather Observation Facility ID RNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 4412
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 6800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2407
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 4 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39203
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49787
NTSB Number LAX88FA246
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 152 81317
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 28 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 44102
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DELBERT L. BOYD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1156 BILLE RD.
Aircraft Owner City PARADISE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95969
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OROVILLE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 2686
Operator City OROVILLE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95965
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 No
Departure Airport Code RNO
Departure City RENO
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OVE
Destination City OROVILLE
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2002 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --