Piper PA-44-180T accident near S Lake Tahoe, California, March 9, 1985
On March 9, 1985 at about 3:10 am local time, a Piper PA-44-180T, registered N8278Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near S Lake Tahoe, California (S. Lake Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 9, 1985 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- S Lake Tahoe, California · S. Lake Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180T · all PA-44-180Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8278Y · no longer on the register · serial 8107025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,725 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 625 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,925 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TO-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TLV at 2:45 am
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 8,544 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.