South Lake Tahoe - Saint George

On January 27, 1986 at 07:20 AM, South Lake Tahoe - Saint George experienced a crash involving Cessna 401, operated by Charles R. Maddox, with the event recorded near South Lake Tahoe California.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Aircraft took off in clear weather but below-freezing temperatures with heavy frost on aircraft surfaces. No preflight, run-up or warm-up performed. On initial climb, left engine power loss occurred for undetermined reason, but probably associated with temp/cold engine operation. Pilot turned into dead engine in apparent course reversal, failed to feather propeller and lowered landing gear during turn. Aircraft stalled, rolled inverted and crashed into residential area. Engine teardown revealed no mechanical defects. Post-mortem and toxicological tests revealed no physiological impairment. All three occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N988JM, MSN 401-0305, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.9319°, -119.9780°.