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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe
- 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 |
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 LAX93LA326.