# NTSB LAX87LA241: Cessna TU206C, N1177T, S. Lake Tahoe, CA, June 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1987, 13:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place: S. Lake Tahoe, CA
- Location: 38.9078° N, 119.9902° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LAKE TAHOE (TVL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9078&lon=-119.9902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA241
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25614/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA241

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF DURING A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE THE PILOT DECIDED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT CLIMBING NORMALLY AND ABORTED THE TAKE-OFF AT MID-FIELD. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND EXTENDED 40 DEGREES OF FLAPS. THE PILOT THEN DECIDED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RELAND AND ADDED FULL POWER AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN APRX ONE QUARTER MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1177T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1177T-1989-03-03), registration cancelled 1989-03-03, S/N U2060986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA TU206C
- Registry model: [Cessna TU206C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206c) (registry code 2073334) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U206-0986
- Airframe hours: 3734
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Howard A. Lipton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 1986, 12 hours before
- Departed: TVL, LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Destination: 061, CAMERON PARK, CA
- Airport: TVL, Lake Tahoe, runway 36, 8,544 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 771 total, 200 in this make and model, 471 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVL, 1 nm away

## 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 19870620058999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870620058999A), Jun 20, 1987: Cessna TU206C, South Lake Taho, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot started to abort a downwind takeoff. Changed his mind and was unable to maintain altitude. Struck terrain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.