Pilot Killed in Small Plane Crash Near Olympic Valley
Beechcraft A36 departed Monterey Regional Airport before rapid speed loss en route to Truckee.
A photo of the aircraft that crashed on Sunday, uploaded 10 years ago by NickFlightX to the FlightAware platform. Credit: NickFlightX / FlightAware.
TAHOE — A small plane crashed in remote terrain southwest of Olympic Valley on March 22 while traveling from Monterey Regional Airport to Truckee Tahoe Airport. The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza went down around 5:14 PM in the Granite Chief Wilderness, about one mile west of Ward Peak. Placer County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers received an Apple crash alert at the same time the aircraft disappeared from radar.
Public flight tracking data from FlightAware for tail number N2882W showed the plane departed Monterey Regional Airport at about 4:12 PM. The data recorded a rapid decline in groundspeed from more than 200 miles per hour to around 100 miles per hour in the final moments before transmission stopped, according to data available on FlightAware. The aircraft had frequently flown the route between Monterey and Truckee Tahoe Airport.
Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team personnel reached the rugged crash site with assistance from California Highway Patrol Air Operations and Care Flight crews. Deputies and rescuers located one person deceased inside the wreckage. Authorities confirmed the pilot was the sole occupant.
The National Transportation Safety Board leads the investigation with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. Tahoe National Forest officials closed the Five Lakes area and surrounding trails, including a half-mile buffer and portions of the Five Lakes Trail, due to unknown dangers from the wreckage. The closure remains in effect through April 7, though officials may lift restrictions sooner.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones impacted by this tragic loss.” No further details about the pilot have been released.