Thorp T211 accident near Grass Valley, California, July 4, 2000
On July 4, 2000 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Thorp T211, registered N91313, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grass Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot encountered a mountain wave at an altitude too low to maintain clearance from trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2000 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thorp T211
- Registration
- N91313 · no longer on the register · serial 4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was cruising the local area about 1,000 feet agl, at 2,500 rpm, when the airplane suddenly started to descend. Although he hadn't noticed any evidence of strong winds, he was on the lee side of a peak. He turned to avoid the wind shear and applied full power, but his descent continued. The airplane collided with 100-feet tall trees after he maneuvered to avoid hitting one straight on with the cabin area.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 1999; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,270 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O145-C2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Q62 Alta Vista CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 142°F (61°C), dew point 102°F (39°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from BLU, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.