Piper PA-28-180 accident near Truckee, California, March 15, 1999
On March 15, 1999 at about 1:03 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N4796L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain and maintain the proper climb airspeed during the initial takeoff climb, including his failure to anticipate the gust factor and density altitude effects in determining a safe airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1999 · about 1:03 am local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4796L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and his family were planning on departing the airport, which had a density altitude of 6,400 feet msl. The airport was reporting that the winds were from 240 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 19 knots at the time of the departure on runway 28. Eyewitnesses to the accident said the airplane appeared to be slow and not climbing in a very nose high attitude after liftoff. Additionally, the eyewitnesses all stated that it appeared that the airplane stalled with the wings wavering side to side, before the left wing dropped right before ground impact. It was later determined that the airplane lifted off approximately 2/10 mile from the departure end of the runway. According to the manufacturer, if the airplane took off with zero flaps and full power at 85 knots, the airplane should have climbed out at a 450-foot-per-minute rate of climb. The pilot estimated his airspeed at 70 knots when he lifted the airplane off the ground. The aircraft was recovered after the accident and an engine examination and operational check was conducted. Magneto to engine timing was checked and found to be within manufacturer's limits. Additionally, the throttle and mixture controls were observed to operate to their full travel limits, and continuity was established to the cockpit. The engine was run-up to full throttle with no abnormal condition noted.
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: 200 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 169 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1998; 204 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRK at 1:00 am
- Destination: STS Santa Rosa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.