Cessna 172M accident near South Lake Taho, California, December 8, 1982
On December 8, 1982 at about 11:16 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N20016, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Lake Taho, California (South Lake Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 1982 · about 11:16 pm local time
- Place
- South Lake Taho, California · South Lake Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N20016 · no longer on the register · serial 17260932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT AND A PASSENGER DEPARTED THE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT AT 1515 PST. HE STATED THAT HE HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 1200 FT AGL WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. A HELICOPTER PILOT THAT WAS IN THE AREA JUST AFTER THE ACCIDENT ALSO REPORTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE. THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF 6264 FT MSL NEAR MOUNTAINS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTS TO DISPLAY COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS AT NIGHT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVL South Lake Taho CA at 3:11 pm
- Destination: PVF Placerville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 8,544 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from TVL, 1 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.