Cessna 172N accident near Truckee, California, September 17, 1988
On September 17, 1988 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6406D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 17, 1988 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6406D · no longer on the register · serial 17272789
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT HEARD A BANGING NOISE ON THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. AT 100 FT A.G.L. HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO LAND. THE PILOT ADDED 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS TO THE 10 THAT HAD BEEN SET FOR TAKEOFF. THE ACFT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE PILOT COULD NOT STOP THE DESCENT. HE LANDED THE ACFT IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING THE NOSE WHEEL COLLIDED WITH A ROCK, BROKE OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL CAP WAS NOT IN PLACE AND WAS HANGING FROM THE WING BY ITS CONNECTION CHAIN. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 7500 FEET.
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: 1,164 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 965 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,796 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1988; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PVF Placerville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,401 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from TRK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.