Piper PA28-140 accident near Truckee, California, May 27, 1991
On May 27, 1991 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N5777F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND THE INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL MUSH WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1991 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5777F · no longer on the register · serial 28-25083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB ACHIEVE AN ABOVE GROUND ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 FEET. IT THEN BEGAN A DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF A MILE BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 28. THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE WERE EXAMINED. FUEL WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM AND NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS IDENTIFIED. BOTH PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED LEADING EDGE DAMAGE AND CHORDWISE SCORING. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE 7100 FEET AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND TO BE LOADED WITHIN 100 POUNDS OF MAX GROSS WEIGHT. REVIEW OF THE PREDICTED RATE OF CLIMB DATA IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COULD EXPECT A MAXIMUM RATE OF CLIMB OF 290 FEET PER MINUTE.
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: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from TRK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.