Cessna 414 accident near Truckee, California, February 10, 1993
On February 10, 1993 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 414, registered N711LT, was destroyed in an accident near Truckee, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DECISION OF THE PILOT NOT TO FOLLOW INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULE PROCEDURES DURING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND REDUCED PERFORMANCE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND HIGH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1993 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N711LT · registry record · serial 414-0630
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 414 COLLIDED WITH A TREE IN A MOUNTAINOUS RESIDENTIAL AREA ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH 1/8 MILE VISIBILITY PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED, BUT WAS NOT OPENED. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE ELEVATION OF THE COLLISION WAS ABOUT 100 FEET HIGHER THAN THE AIRPORT. THE STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE PROCEDURES FOR THE AIRPORT PRESCRIBE TAKEOFF MINIMUMS OF 3,500 FOOT CEILING AND 3 MILES VISIBILITY. THE PROCEDURE REQUIRES A MINIMUM CLIMB RATE OF 425 FEET PER NAUTICAL MILE, A RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF TO INTERCEPT A 002 DEGREE RADIAL OFF A VOR, AND A CLIMB TO A SPECIFIED ALTITUDE. THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL RECOMMENDS THAT PILOTS CLIMB TO 400 FEET AGL BEFORE TURNING WHEN EXECUTING STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE UNDER IFR. THE AIRPLANE WAS ALSO DETERMINED TO BE ABOUT 400 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE TAKEOFF. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE EXISTING AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 387 hours in all; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TRK at 4:15 pm
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:25 pm from TRK, 2 miles away
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.