Plane Crashes Shortly After Taking Off From Truckee-Tahoe Airport

One person aboard the plane died in the crash and the second passenger was injured. They were airlifted to a nearby hospital. The plane crashed just minutes after takeoff and only about a mile and a half from Truckee-Tahoe Airport.

[johncollins]

I flew a 172 on a 90 degree afternoon from Ft. Collins. I took up almost 4000 ft. of a 5000ft. runway just to get into the air. Density altitude is a real thing.

[jdaz]

Why would you ask the Sheriff to give his opinion on why the plane crashed? Winds he said? Actual aviation experts point to density altitude as a more likely cause. Hot high altitude air is thin and causes issues with lift. This plane likely had trouble climbing out of the airport.

[skyking]

"High" and "Hot" takeoffs are extremely dangerous

[adb]

Ok NTSB, close the investigation, you have all the answers in the comments of this video.
Guys, get serious. None of you have any idea of what happened.

Density altitude? Yes, COULD be a factor, but was it? Yes, it is a somehow high airport at 5900 ft, and on a very hot day the density altitude can be 9000 ft. But let's review the performance of the SR20, shall we?
The empty weight is about 2000 lb and the maximum take-off weight is about 3000lb, so the useful load is 1000 lb. With 2 persons on board (let's say 400 lb) and full fuel (360 lb) the airplane would have been more than 200 lb below the maximum take-off weight, so we are going to look at the 3000 lb performance numbers and we are going to be conservative because the airplane was lighter than that.
Take off: At 9000 ft of density altitude and 3000 lb, the take-off roll is about 3000 ft lifting off at 68 knots, and the distance from brake release to 50 ft of altitude and 75 knots is 4160 ft. And that is with no wind, apparently they were taking off into a somehow strong headwind that would greatly reduce these distances. For example with a 12 kts headwind these distances would have been 2700 ft and 3750 ft respectively. The shortest runway at this airport is 4650 ft long.
Climb: At 9000 ft of density altitude and 3000 lb, the climb gradient would be 325 ft per nautical mile, and the vertical speed some 400 feet per minute, both at an airspeed of 82 kts (best climb rate) and still with take-off flaps.
This mean that it was perfectly within the capabilities of the airplane to take off and climb from this high airport even in a hot day. The density altitude may still have been a factor in this accident, but we just don't know it yet.

Engine failure? Of course engine failure could have caused this accident. But did it? We just don't know.

Stall? (and someone was as stupid specific as propose a tip stall as the most likely cause of the crash). Of course a stall could have caused this accident. But did it? We just don't know.

Medical emergency? Again, we don't know.

I am not against speculation, but could you all at least admit that it is speculation and explain the reason why you favor one theory in particular, instead of presenting it as an obvious fact of the type "engine failure fuel related", "Tip stall most likely", "Altitude density, and stupidity." without further explanation? (copied from the comments) Why don't you watch yourself in the mirror before calling someone else stupid?

[dustincooper]

RIP at least one person survived, although they probably don't feel lucky

[imapaine-diaz]

Density altitude again. Pilots should really study that before flying on a hot day at high altitude. this happens way too often in the mountain airports.

[glopz]

Hot day high altitude a little head wind climb rate would be handled very gingerly ?

[StickandGlider]

The hottest day of the year across much of the state. Density altitude, say it ain’t so!

[anthonygemergencyvideos]

I heard this come in on my police scanner. it was crazy. condolences to the family.

[ronwade]

500 AGL, Five Hundred Feet is the first safe altitude for these systems.
Once deployed, engine on or off, it is completely at the mercy of the winds. One link I followed showed the prop, one straight blade showing. Too low an altitude for deployment, deployed in those high, gusting winds, it went in on its nose and the same high gusts forced the Rudder into the ground, at least partially crushing the cockpit.

[erichurst]

So does this station keep a crew in the Truckee area?

[maxracingteam]

Just another reason for my ass to stay at sea level!!

[Miata]

If they were overweight, had engine failure, or just couldn't climb because of the temperature altitude the Cirrus parachute needs a bare minimum 400 feet of altitude to work. Judging by what we can see of the plane they may well have been below that.

[AiChatbot]

I’m going to take a guess density altitude after seeing the sign saying 5, 900 ft elevation

[patmcbride]

Reporter: Do you know what may have made this happen so shortly after takeoff?
Sheriff Dept.: What, are we the FAA, NTSB? Ask us a LE question.

[kenhurley]

Waiting for Dan Gryder and Juan Browne to give us the best information. Oh and the taxpayers don't even pay for it!

[melissajohnson]

You asked the sheriff what happened? 🤔

[Whowhatwherewhy]

Don’t understand why parachute even mentioned as it had no part in survivability of this crash. Reporter needs a little more information before going on air. She isn’t going to get it from Sheriff dept.

[georgemon]

Looking at the crossing the plane appears to be in reasonably good shape, able to use the parachute possibly a heart attack, wrong fuel tank selected not enough fuel in secondary tank, ?

[odyshopody]

Warm day, high altitude, normally aspirated engine, usually not a good combo!