Waco YKC accident near Placerville, California, January 13, 1985
On January 13, 1985 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Waco YKC, registered N14000, was substantially damaged in an accident near Placerville, California (Swansboro County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were 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
- January 13, 1985 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Placerville, California · Swansboro County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco YKC · all YKCs on the register
- Registration
- N14000 · registry record · serial 3880
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS LINED UP ON RWY BUT PLT MISJUDGED HEIGHT AND ACFT STALLED APRX 3 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. ACFT BOUNCED AND UPON CONTACTING THE GROUND VEERED RIGHT. PLT OVER COMPENSATED AND ACFT GROUND LOOPED TRAVELING OFF LEFT SIDE OF RWY INTO A ROAD. THE POND IS APRX 60 FT SOUTH OF THE AIRSTRIP MID-FIELD. LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF.
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: 272 hours in all; 202 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 272 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1984; 272 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 61Q Placerville CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,235 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.