S. Lake Tahoe Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

S Lake Tahoe, California 95705
Friday, March 8, 1985 19:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK DURING LNDG. THE PLT SAID HE NOTICED FOG MOVING IN AND AFTER TOUCHING DOWN HE STARTED BRAKING 'RIGHT AWAY'. A SKIDDING ACTION TOOK PLACE AND THE ACFT WENT TO THE LEFT INTO A SNOW BANK. NO MECHANICAL OR PHYSICAL DISCREPANCIES OF A CAUSAL NATURE WERE REVEALED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/8/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1910
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City S LAKE TAHOE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95705
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport S. LAKE TAHOE
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5300
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 144
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 8 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27347
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8278Y
NTSB Number LAX85LA170
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-44-180T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-44-180T
Aircraft Serial Number 8107025
Certified Max Gross Weight 3925
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 625
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EUGENE R. GRACE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1590 CIRCLE DR.
Aircraft Owner City SAN MARINO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91108
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 TLV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RNO
Destination City RENO
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --