# NTSB LAX93LA280: Cessna 172N, N3090E, Truckee, CA, July 6, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 1993, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Coordinates: 39.330188, -120.239463 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3302&lon=-120.2395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28421/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA280 ## Probable cause THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - climb - not possible - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command(cfi) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis THE STUDENT PERFORMED A TOUCH AND GO ON RUNWAY 28. DURING THE CLIMB OUT, THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE POWER OUTPUT SEEMED LOW, WITH THE RPM INDICATING ONLY ABOUT 2,000 AND DECREASING. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATION WAS SMOOTH, WITH NO APPARENT ROUGHNESS. THE INSTRUCTOR ALSO SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT PAVEMENT LEFT TO AFFECT A LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A CLEAR AREA BEYOND THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND ROUGH TERRAIN DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT. BOTH THE INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT SAID THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE MIXTURE WAS LEANED TO BEST POWER FOR THE DENSITY ALTITUDE. THE FLAPS WERE FULLY RETRACTED. THE PILOTS SAID THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF AT ABOUT 60 KNOTS AND INCREASED TO ABOUT 65 KNOTS; HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND THAT POINT. DURING THE ENGINE TESTING AND SUBSEQUENT DISASSEMBLY, NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 1993, at 1210 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N3090E, collided with trees during an off airport landing at Truckee, California. The aircraft failed to climb during the takeoff portion of a touch and go operation on runway 28 and the flight instructor on board landed the aircraft in a clear area beyond the departure end of the runway. The aircraft collided with trees during the ground roll. The aircraft was operated by C & J of Nevada, Inc., Reno, Nevada, and was on a local area dual instructional flight at the time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and included calm winds. The aircraft incurred substantial damage; however, neither the certificated commercial pilot flight instructor nor his dual primary student were injured. The flight originated at the Reno, Nevada, airport on the day of the mishap at 1130 hours with the intention of performing touch and go pattern practice operations at the Truckee airport. According to verbal and written statements from the flight instructor, the student performed a touch and go on runway 28. During the climb out, the instructor observed that the engine power output seemed low, with the RPM indicating only about 2,000 and decreasing. The instructor stated that the engine operation was smooth, with no apparent roughness. The instructor also said he noted that the aircraft would not clear the trees off the end of the runway and there was insufficient pavement left to affect a landing. The instructor stated that he took over the controls and landed the aircraft in a clear area beyond the runway and subsequently collided with trees and rough terrain during the landing roll out. Both the instructor and the student provided consistent statements detailing the configuration of the aircraft during the attempted takeoff. The pilots noted that the carburetor heat was in the off position and the mixture was leaned to best power for the density altitude. The flaps were fully retracted. The pilots reported that the aircraft lifted off at about 60 knots and the airspeed increased to about 65 knots; however it would not accelerate beyond that point. The airframe and engine were examined in detail by an FAA airworthiness inspector. During the engine testing and subsequent disassembly, no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions were noted. The inspector's report of the examination is attached to this report. The flight manual performance charts for the Cessna 172N were reviewed. At the temperature and pressure altitude existing at the time of the operation, the charts detail that the aircraft should have had a climb capability of about 440 feet per minute. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3090E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3090E-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 17271439, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271439 - Airframe hours: 7676 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: C & J Of Nevada, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 23, 1993, 10 hours before - Departed: RNO, RENO, NV - Destination: TRK, CA - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 28, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TRK ## 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 19930706022609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930706022609A), Jul 6, 1993: Cessna 172N, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. CFI failed to timely note student failed to climb on touch and go. Took over. Landed off airport. Ran into trees. 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.