Piper PA-22 accident near Truckee, California, April 24, 1989
On April 24, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N840A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Tucker-Tahoe airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF FUEL LINES BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHO INSTALLED THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Tucker-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N840A · no longer on the register · serial 22-140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CONVERSION ENG HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE ACFT. THE PLT SAID THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY DURING THE INITIAL GROUND RUNUP. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE ENG LOST ALL POWER. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND GET THE ACFT BACK ON THE AIRPORT BUT THE LANDING WAS HARD. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION INDICATED FUEL LINES FROM THE FUEL PUMP IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 259 hours in all; 14 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRK at 8:39 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 6,400 ft by 110 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.