Cessna 172M accident near Truckee, California, May 23, 2013
On May 23, 2013 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N8879V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Truckee, California (Private 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 the landing roll which resulted in a collision with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2013 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8879V · no longer on the register · serial 17264238
- 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 he was making his first landing of the summer season on a high mountain dirt/turf airstrip. The airplane touched down left of centerline, which sloped to the left. The pilot was unable to correct back to the right before the left wing struck a pine tree next to the airstrip. The airplane spun to the left and skidded sideways when the right wing contacted the surface. Both wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,380 hours in all; 1,053 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 6, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,724 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 18, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAE Madera CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: NA Truckee CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,250 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from TRK, 11 miles away
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.