Diamond Aircraft Industries KATANA DA20-A1 accident near S. Lake Tahoe, California, August 24, 1996
On August 24, 1996 at about 10:54 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries KATANA DA20-A1, registered N474B, was substantially damaged in an accident near S. Lake Tahoe, California (Lake Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate use of the brakes, which resulted in loss of directional control while taxiing in a non-movement area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1996 · about 10:54 pm local time
- Place
- S. Lake Tahoe, California · Lake Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries KATANA DA20-A1 KATANA DA2
- Registration
- N474B · registry record · serial 10040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that as he attempted a right turn from parking, his right hydraulic brake did not produce the braking action he was expecting. As a result, his aircraft turned wide and struck the spinner of a Cessna with its left wing tip. As his aircraft continued in the turn, it struck the propeller of a Piper with its left wing. After the second impact, his aircraft yawed left until it struck the left wing of the Piper with its spinner. After the accident, the Katana's brake system was inspected and was found to operate properly. The Katana requires the use of differential braking to steer the aircraft during ground taxi operations.
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: 60 hours in all; 59 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 520 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 23, 1996; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,619 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVL at 10:54 pm
- Destination: STS Santa Rosa CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from TVL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.