Cessna 170 accident near Truckee, California, July 14, 2010
On July 14, 2010 at about 8:21 pm local time, a Cessna 170, registered N3967V, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Truckee, California (Truckee-Thahoe Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing, resulting in a collision with obstacles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2010 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Thahoe Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N3967V · no longer on the register · serial 18286
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while flying in the traffic pattern the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) reported the wind as calm. He stated that just after the airplane touched down a gust of wind struck the airplane and the airplane bounced. The pilot added power but the airplane bounced a second time and turned to the right. He said that he initiated an aborted landing then pulled the nose of the airplane up to go over a berm located on the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear cleared the berm but the right main landing gear struck a rock, causing the aircraft to nose over. The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 816 hours in all; 248 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2009; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tahoe Wings LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KTRK Truckee CA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: KTRK Truckee CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from KTRK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.