Piper PA 46 350P accident near Truckee, CA

On March 3, 2014, a Piper PA 46 350P (airplane) was involved in an accident near Truckee, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

March 3, 2014

Place

Truckee, CA

Aircraft

Piper PA 46 350P · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

39.298°N, 120.012°W

NTSB ID

20140304X52659

Official records · WPR14FA127

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Air Traffic Control Communications Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 3, 2014, at 1032 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N9281F, collided with terrain approximately 7 miles east of the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, Truckee, California. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the single passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the commercial pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The airplane's left wing had separated from the fuselage resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Marginal visual flight rules (MVFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight originated at John Wayne-Orange County Airport, Santa Ana, California, about 0800. Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) communications received the pilot's request for an instrument approach into Truckee at 0959. ARTCC cleared the pilot direct to the Truckee Airport via direct LOLLA intersection maintaining 16,000 feet mean sea level (msl). At 1010, the pilot was cleared to cross LOLLA at or above 12,000 feet msl and then was cleared for the GPS-A approach into Truckee. At 1015, ARTCC approved crossing LOLLA at or above 11,300 feet. Radar track data and airplane GPS data showed the airplane approach the initial approach fix (IAF), LOLLA, at 11,200 feet mean sea level (msl), at approximately 200 knots ground speed, and on a 317-degree (magnetic) course. At 1019, the radar track crossed LOLLA and started a right turn to the east. At 1022, ARTCC terminated radar services, which the pilot acknowledged. The

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to properly execute the missed approach in instrument conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s lack of instrument proficiency, as demonstrated by his failure to execute the required procedure turn to align with the final approach course and to configure the airplane for the approach, and his loss of situational awareness and the onset of spatial disorientation

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.