Beech A36TC accident near Truckee, CA
On May 12, 1997, a Beech A36TC (airplane) was involved in an accident near Truckee, CA. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 12, 1997
- Place
- Truckee, CA
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · Airplane
- Injuries
- 5 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.329°N, 120.240°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07942
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 11, 1997, at 2108 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech A-36TC, N6174N, en route to San Jose, California, collided with terrain immediately after takeoff from Truckee, California. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and subsequent fire, and the pilot and four passengers received fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. Four witnesses stated that they observed the aircraft taxi to the takeoff end of runway 28 and delay for what they thought was sufficient time to accomplish an engine and flight controls checkout. On takeoff, the witnesses observed the aircraft liftoff at the midfield point on the 7,000-foot runway and begin a shallow climb. Near the departure end of the runway, at an estimated altitude of 100 to 150 feet agl, the witnesses observed the aircraft enter a turn to the left and begin to lose altitude. The aircraft was observed to continually lose altitude throughout the turn until it impacted the ground. Evidence at the crash site indicated that the aircraft had turned through a total of 220 degrees from the runway heading impacting the ground on a magnetic heading of 060 degrees. A witness, located in a building approximately 300 feet from the crash site, reported hearing a loud "pop" similar to a rifle report which was followed immediately by the sound of the engine "revving up". These sounds were followed 3 to 4 seconds later by the sound of the aircraft impact with the ground. PERSONNEL IN
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain altitude and clearance above the terrain, while turning (for an unknown reason) back toward the airport after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: the environmental conditions (light conditions at dusk and high density altitude) and lack of visual cues, while turning toward darker conditions; and spatial disorientation of the pilot.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
