Truckee-Tahoe Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Truckee, California 95734
Saturday, September 17, 1988 15:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT HEARD A BANGING NOISE ON THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. AT 100 FT A.G.L. HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO LAND. THE PILOT ADDED 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS TO THE 10 THAT HAD BEEN SET FOR TAKEOFF. THE ACFT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE PILOT COULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT. HE LANDED THE ACFT IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING THE NOSE WHEEL COLLIDED WITH A ROCK, BROKE OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL CAP WAS NOT IN PLACE AND WAS HANGING FROM THE WING BY ITS CONNECTION CHAIN. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 7500 FEET.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TRUCKEE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95734
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 9
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 --
Airport Elevation 5900
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1545
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TRK
Elevation of weather observation facility 264
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8398
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 608
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 17 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36476
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6406D
NTSB Number LAX88LA320
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 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17272789
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 10 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 3796
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOMPOC AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address N. H STREET
Aircraft Owner City LOMPOC
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93436
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVF
Destination City PLACERVILLE
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 28
Runway Length 6401
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --