Truckee TBM 960 Crash in Icing Conditions 30 March 2024

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Theme: "Weightless" Aram Bedrosian

[flyerbob]

Bottom line….just don’t go to Truckee in IMC. Head over to Reno and get a car or head to the Grand Sierra Hotel and have an adult beverage. Used to know a guy who flew a private jet for some one who went into Truckee often. He made it perfectly clear to the owner he was never flying an instrument approach into Truckee.

[billcuster]

I fly Pilatus PC-12 Medevac out of Reno. We got called a couple hours before this to pick up a patient in Truckee who needed to go to SFO. Even though the weather was forecast 2 miles vis, I turned it down for my suspicion of what CAN (and did) happen in that area. The next morning when I learned about this crash it just gave me the willies. I so appreciate your knowledge and factual presentation of the known information on these incidents.

[dougcarlisle]

The pilot was a friend of mine - very enthusiastic aviator but not a full time professional. He founded several successful companies and then became an investor/board member. As another commenter noted KTRK is a very tough approach in IMC/icing. Reno is a much safer and better choice and only about a 45 minute Uber back up I80 to KTRK. RIP - a very nice man and a good friend.

[walteradair]

I gave the pilot of N960LP remedial training for the training he received from another company several yeas ago following the activation of the Emergency Descent mode he did not know was in his new TBM850 G1000. The TBM960 comes from the factory with Auto-Throttle installed. The Auto Throttle will fly a missed approach from TOGA to published holding. Walt Adair, Turbine Solutions Inc. I have sent you an email with my contacts and qualifications.

[Factory]

When I was just sitting in a TBM960 and considering the systems it occurred to me that I would need to make a conscious effort to avoid over-confidence. It feels like the airplane would never let you make a bad decision at first glance. It has some really advanced systems that are aimed at reducing pilot workload and improving safety.

After I got past the initial wow factor, I realized the pilot still needs to be a pilot. The advanced automation is not enough to overcome every bad decision.

[mamulcahy]

Flew my IFR XC in a 172. Not only was my instructor on board, but his 8yo son decided to come along for the ride. We were in IMC in the clouds and started picking up ice. ATC gave us lower and we stopped accumulating ice, but we had a load and the plane was sluggish. Flew the approach and down final at 80k no flaps. When we landed, we found about 3/8” of ice accumulated.

I learned a lot on that flight and never flew in icing again. I really appreciate the fact that my instructor gave me some real life experience rather than only flying on severe clear days. Thank you Tom!

[colinmccune]

As someone who flies my own single engine and airlines as a career my motto is “ always remember these little airplanes will kill you if given half a chance “ be safe everyone .
My condolences to family members and friends of the victims in this accident .

[National]

Flown that approach in a Challenger 604. Tricky approach. Also flown visual approaches from the south. Pilots forget, this is a high altitude airport. Which means thinner air. Less drag, and less performance than at sea level airports. Harder to slow down and get down. Higher stall speeds. In visual conditions an approach from the south will set off your GPWS crossing the shoreline. And when VFR the pattern is often full of gliders that are not talking on the radio. A tricky airport in any conditions. As an airline guy, with 39 years of flying experience, I can say I would not fly an approach into this airport in the conditions that existed at the time of this accident. Reno is about a 40 minute drive. Sacramento maybe 1 hour. Heck, I would not have driven my truck across the Sierra's on Hwy 80 yesterday in these conditions! As we all know as professional pilots, just because you can. Does not mean you should!!! Very sad. Avoidable accident! RIP to these two souls. Jim Gillespie. Reno, NV.

[Mooney]

Used to fly an MU2N for a private owner. Took them to Truckee once, day time with ceilings high Did the instrument approach only because it was broken clouds and high ceilings. Told him on the ground we would never go in or out of there after dark

[brettcarlson]

A lot of pilots forget that when you’re doing 100 knots on final, in heavy snow or moderate to heavy rain, even though visibility is reported on the ground as 1nm or 2nm, the visibility with the precipitation on the windscreen can be nearly zero. I was reminded of this recently when flying into San Bernardino in moderate rain. We broke out well above minimums, and could see miles to the left and right but zero ahead. Thankfully the rain slackened a bit closer to runway to allow us to slow and make a good landing. Just food for thought.

[vwfanatic]

I can hear Dan over & over, rightly saying, night, ice, terrain, or IMC, pick ONE. This pilot attempted all 4.
So sad.

[Starship]

I am a retired GA pilot and trauma anesthesiologist doctor. You must know your limitations even with a familiar airport. Single pilot flying with all those limitations like icing, below minimums, etc., come back another day. Reno airport not far away with ILS and probably no snow or icing. As a trauma anesthesiologist my job is the final clearance to go to the OR. Obviously if the patient is bleeding out, it’s a no brainer. But many times come back another day after tuning up the patient.

[CBLounge]

It was snowing like a mofo here in Carson City at 7pm last night and was DUMPING up in Tahoe, I couldn't even imagine trying to land at Truckee last night, no thanks! Cheers Juan!

[clintstinkeye]

I'm from the mountains of Colorado and I was seriously humbled by the snow storms I encountered in Truckee.
The moisture content of the snow so close to the ocean is very heavy.
I'm not a pilot, but I'm quite sure I wouldn't want to be in a GA aircraft flying through Sierra Cement.
Heavy snow is far more oppressive than light snow.
For real.

[markmossinghoff]

As Juan once said, "they will hold their memorial service on a bright sunny day ".

[i.r.wayright]

Picture this. A guy I know was in his Baron, coming back to PA, following a trip to California. He was in the weather above the mountains of New Mexico, cruising with the autopilot on. The plane iced up until the stall speed and cruise speed met. Down he went trying to regain control, got up OVER red line until he finally managed to pull out of the dive. As he did that, he bent the tail section and found himself in a valley between the mountains. I still can't believe he flew back to PA with it bent up, but I guess a few wrinkles in the aft fuselage didn't bother hm too much. I think it is time for the FAA to restrict operations at Truckee in less than reasonable weather conditions. If not for the safety of those in a plane, for the local residents who might take issue with one crashing into their home. Otherwise it is just a matter of time.

[edcassella]

I flew as a Mentor Pilot CFII in the TBM850 and 940. On one particular flight with the Owner Pilot we encountered moderate mixed icing at FL220. I watched him do exactly what the training school taught him. Put on all Anti & Deice devices and keep on flying at cruise level . What they did not teach was to fly out of the icing immediately. On this flight the ice accretion was moderate and built behind the protected boot on the wings. I had to prompt the pilot owner to descend out of the icing conditions at a high rate. Point is no airplane is meant to exist in icing conditions more than a brief moment in time. Get out of it ASAP.

[IllFlyIt]

Flew into Truckee in the Phenom and was pressured by the FBO (airport management) to takeoff away from the city to aid in “noise abatement”. Performance numbers didn’t allow it and I politely declined his request due to safety. His attitude was unprofessional and a safety issue. Though this has nothing to do with this accident it still makes me angry that management there has that attitude. TRK was a challenging airport the 5 times I went there. 4 successful and one divert to SMF due to snow.

[jenniferroberts]

So sad - this guy had the hangar across from ours at KTRK. Nice guy, experienced pilot, flew a lot (for his non-aviation job), went to Flight Safety regularly, but the weather was definitely sketchy.

[changefromabill]

Since this is a repetitive accident site and difficult for many to comprehend the complexity of the terrain and approach, I forward the motion that Juan take us all along on an upload field trip...in good weather, of course. Talk us through the approach, get to minimums, then a complete missed procedure to landing. It would help us all understand and more importantly, help folks behind the yoke from being another statistic. Any seconds?