Aeronca 0-58B accident near Grass Valley, California, August 21, 1988
On August 21, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 0-58B, registered N56740, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grass Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 0-58B · all 0-58Bs on the register
- Registration
- N56740 · registry record · serial 058B12873
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED THEN QUIT. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A PLATEAU DIRECTLY BELOW. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH THE AIRPLANE FLEW THROUGH A DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE PLATEAU, INSTEAD IT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES PRIOR TO THE PLATEAU. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE EXHAUSTED OF FUEL. THE FLT TIME WAS 30 MINUTES.
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: 242 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,361 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1988; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 051 Lincoln CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX88LA293.