Cessna 180 accident near S. Lake Tahoe, California, May 18, 1988
On May 18, 1988 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2969A, 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; 1 person was 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
- May 18, 1988 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- S. Lake Tahoe, California · S. Lake Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2969A · registry record · serial 30169
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND DRAGGED A WING WHILE TAXIING. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD JUST COMPLETED AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING AND WAS TAXIING TO PARKING. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE WAS TAXIING TOO FAST WHEN HE TURNED OFF THE RUNWAY AND THE WING DIPPED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE CALM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AND ACC REPORT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVL S. Lake Tahoe CA at 12:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 8,544 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from TVL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.