Cessna 180 accident near Truckee, California, May 4, 1991
On May 4, 1991 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N9147C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES TO ARREST THE RUNWAY EXCURSION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENCOUNTERING UNFAVORABLE WINDS, CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1991 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee · map
- 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
- N9147C · registry record · serial 31246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 19 TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING A DUST DEVIL WHICH CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO GROUND LOOP. THE REPORTED SURFACE WINDS WERE 150 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS GUSTING TO 16 KNOTS. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED ONLY 15 HOURS IN THIS TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE OF WHICH 8 HOURS WERE AS PIC. THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:15 pm from TRK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 LAX91LA192.