- Date
- January 17, 2017, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Markleeville, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5623CCessna 140
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 20, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170117000399A
- Case key
- 94629
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low pass and the subsequent impact with a snow berm, which resulted in a nosed-over.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during a low pass to evaluate the snow-covered runway, the airplane descended to 4 ft above ground level. The airplane encountered a crosswind from the left, and the pilot accomplished a "slip to remain over the runway." However, the airplane descended, and the left main landing gear struck a snow berm and the airplane struck the runway and nosed over. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the rudder, and the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot asserted that he should have practiced what he teaches his students and stayed 300 ft above airports when performing a fly-over. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during a low pass to evaluate the snow-covered runway, the airplane descended to 4 ft above ground level. The airplane encountered a crosswind from the left, and the pilot accomplished a "slip to remain over the runway". However, the airplane descended and the left main landing gear struck a snow berm and the airplane struck the runway and nosed over. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the rudder, and the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot asserted that he should have practiced what he teaches his students, and stayed 300 ft. above airports when performing a fly over. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5623C
- Reported as
- Cessna 140 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15556
- Built
- 1950
- Airframe hours
- 1,076
- Engine
- Cont Motor C90, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 20, 2016
- Departed
- MEV · Minden, NV
- Destination
- CXP · Carson City, NV
- Airport
- M45 · Alpine County, runway 35, 5,857 × 30 ft, snow
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 76
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 29, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 4,088 total · 38 in this make and model · 4,088 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- TVL, 16 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 646 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.