# NTSB LAX81FA023: Citabria 7KCAB, N9144L, Truckee, CA, December 20, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 20, 1980
- Place: Truckee, CA · TRUCKEE, CA
- Location: 39.3280° N, 120.1833° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Truckee, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3280&lon=-120.1833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127743
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3715  80/12/20   TRUCKEE,CA          CITABRIA 7KCAB      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1420                    N9144L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 46, 1025 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRUCKEE-TAHOE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TRUCKEE,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        REMARKS- ROLLED LEFT OVR RWY IMDTLY AFTR TKOF.FORMULA I ACFT HAD MADE ROLLS DRG LOW PASSES JUST BFR ACDNT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9144L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9144L-2014-11-24), registration cancelled 2014-11-24, S/N 290-71, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CITABRIA 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Truckee-Tahoe

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19801220089939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801220089939A), Dec 20, 1980: Bbavia 7KCAB, Truckee, CA, Destroyed. Rolled to inverted flight on liftoff. Flew into runway inverted. Believed intended inverted climbout.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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