Amateur-built PA18-200EXP accident near Truckee, California, June 21, 2023
On June 21, 2023 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built PA18-200EXP, registered N356AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe 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 loss of directional control on landing roll out, during variable wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2023 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PA18-200EXP, built 2013
- Registration
- N356AW · registry record · serial PA-18-200-1-JT
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he had been approved by air traffic control (ATC), to enter the traffic pattern for runway 11. On final approach, ATC advised the pilot that the wind had changed, and suggested a straight in approach to land runway 02. The pilot accepted the suggestion and clearance to land runway 02. The airplane touched down on its main landing gear and as the tailwheel settled to the ground, the tail “was pushed around.” The airplane ground looped and came to a stop in the grass beside the runway. Once on the ground, the pilot noticed that multiple windsocks on the airport were displaying different wind directions and suspected the airplane had encountered a strong crosswind. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 465.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 6, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 465 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 027 Oakdale CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 4,654 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from KTRK
Weather report (METAR): KTRK 212250Z COR VRB05KT 10SM FEW060 19/M04 A3011=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 26, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.