Pilatus B4-PC11AF accident near Truckee, California, August 17, 1993
On August 17, 1993 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Pilatus B4-PC11AF (glider), registered N205AS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONDUCT ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT CHECKS WHICH RESULTED IN THE GLIDER TAKING OFF WITH A FRAYED RELEASE HOOK CABLE, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time · cases in 1993
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus B4-PC11AF · all B4-PC11AFs on the register
- Registration
- N205AS · registry record · serial 264
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FAILED TO DISCOVER A FRAYED TOW RELEASE CABLE DURING THE PREFLIGHT CHECK. THE CABLE WAS BINDING WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT HIS TAKEOFF. THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE GLIDER AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 770 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRK at 10:15 pm
- Destination: TRK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from TRK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N205AS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pilatus B-4 37 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pilatus 403 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Truckee-Tahoe Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,094 in the last ten years
- California 28,286 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX93LA326.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.