Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC42 550FG accident near Truckee, California, March 21, 2014
On March 21, 2014 at about 10:50 pm local time, a 2007 Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC42 550FG, registered N112FP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Truckee, California (Truckee-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 failure to maintain directional control during both the landing and the subsequent attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2014 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC42 550FG 550FG, built 2007 · all LC42 550FGs on the register
- Registration
- N112FP · no longer on the register · serial 42545
- 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, before landing, he obtained the current weather for the destination airport, which indicated that wind was from 260 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern for runway 29 and conducted an uneventful landing. Shortly after, the airplane suddenly veered left. The pilot attempted to regain directional control by applying rudder; however, he felt that the airplane was going to tip left, so he decided to initiate a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the airplane exited the runway surface, bounced, and struck terrain adjacent to the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 451 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 318 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 20, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 609 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Palo Alto CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: TRK Truckee CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.