Cessna 310Q accident near Truckee, California, October 9, 1996
On October 9, 1996 at about 3:45 am local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N7833Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe airport). It was a business 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
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and fuel consumption calculations resulting in fuel exhaustion. The pilot's failure to switch the fuel tanks to the auxiliary position and feather both propellers were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1996 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N7833Q · no longer on the register · serial 310Q0615
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While turning on the final approach, with the landing gear extended, the pilot switched the fuel tanks' selector handles from the auxiliary fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks. Shortly thereafter, both engines sustained a total loss of power. The pilot turned on the boost pumps to restart both engines, but without success. During the ensuing emergency landing, the pilot did not retract the landing gear or feather both propellers. The airplane landed about 450 feet short of the runway. The postaccident examination of the airplane disclosed that both main fuel tanks were empty. Neither the main fuel tanks nor their associated components were compromised during the impact sequence.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 7,753 hours in all; 5,180 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 7,591 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1996; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-VO (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 3:30 am
- Destination: TRK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am 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.
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.