NTSB Preliminary Report N960LP Truckee CA.

LINKS: Correction: .34 statute mile visibility "34 hundredths" (not tenths)

Theme: "Weightless" Aram Bedrosian

[jammasterjay]

Great video as always. For those who aren’t familiar with the area, snowing in this area is different from almost everywhere, so “heavy snow” here means something different. They even have a name for it; it’s called sierra cement because it’s so thick and wet. It’s not always like that, but it can be insane!

[garymartin]

Truckee pilots: when in poor weather divert to Reno and live.

[hifiandrew]

As Captain Vanderburgh in 'Children of the Magenta' talk said "automation dependent pilots allowed their airplanes to get much closer to the edge of the envelope than they should have" -1997. Some things haven't changed.

[gpaolino]

As a pilot who operates mostly out of OAK (North field, Cessnas), I see some of the big twins and turboprops and private jets that are sometimes headed to Truckee, and I can tell ya, the rich clientele that sit in the passenger seats can be seen sometimes in the FBO's stamping their feet because the pilot is concerned about weather. A lot of pressure gets put on basically starving pilots to achieve mission success, and that means they have to decide whether to disappoint a rich client or risk dicey weather. It's really not fair, and add in the doctors and lawyers and tech broswho have their own planes and vacation homes in Tahoe and relatively low time-in-type for IFR conditions and you have the recipe for the string of disasters that have happened there of late. Truckee is a relatively difficult airport MOST OF THE TIME, EVEN IN VFR CONDITIONS. I think it may be time for the FAA to step in and review the instrument approaches and make some kind of adjustments to minimums, especially on the RNAV approaches, to get pilots to think more conservatively, and to give paid pilots more breathing room to refuse flights into marginal conditions up there. Thoughts? See @hifiandrew's comment below!

[williamk]

In the words of that famous aeronautical decision making master, Mr. Myagi. The best way to win a fight? Not be there. Wrong airport decision at the wrong time.

[drizztcat]

The crash was actually triggered about 10 nm from the airport when the pilot decided to attempt the landing in conditions that called for a diversion. That decision killed him and his wife. Tragic.

[Freedomusa]

I like how you added the autopilot entries to the Google Earth view. Really helps to understand what pilot was doing.

[lyleparadise]

One possibility, IMO, is the pilot(s) forgot about setting the missed approach altitude of 12000' for GRIOT after they started the approach at AWEGA. If they had pre-selected the minimum altitude(s) of 7200' at YAKYU, or maybe even 6480' at WINUB and did not change to the missed approach altitude, then when they went missed and engaged the Altitude Hold / LNAV function, the AP would try to bring them back to the lower altitude selected. This can cause an anxious moment as you try to figure out what is happening and may explain all the button pushing shortly after going with a heavy work load already in the cockpit this may have caused momentary spatial disorientation and loss of control.

[mattheide]

Learning from previous incidents can and does save lives. Especially for these young Aviators that we need so badly in every aspect. ❤

[nicoleorton]

Thank you for the comprehensive break-down. This tragedy is similar too many in the Sierra's, over the years. Rest in Peace to the victims.

[markhwirth]

Thanx Juan good break down ! I’ve seen this scenario over and over again thru the years ! Just enough flight time to be dangerous!

[Mooney]

I took the boss in there ONCE in an MU-2 in high broken clouds After landing I told him we would never go there at night or in low weather. He didn't like it but I didn't care (and this was after a full airline career of low weather flying on my part!)

[x--.]

That string of button pushing really seems to indicate a high-stress level and potential task saturation. That's what I do on my computer when I can't get anything to work and need the dang printer to just print -- getting into that position on an aircraft with lives on the line.

Excellent coverage, sir.

[neo]

Thank you for your videos !
Just a precision : the pilot might actually have selected the go around altitude during the approach. But the ALT HOLD mode automatically changes the selected altitude to the actual aircraft altitude when the mode is engaged. That would have canceled the preselection of the go around altitude.
Keep up the good work and thanks again !

[Charon]

Part 135 doesn’t allow an approach to be begun if the weather is below minimums. That is a hint

[rydavis]

That is a lot of aircraft to handle and especially under these conditions. Be interesting to hear what the TBM pilot Steve1kinevo in FL could add to this review. This plane is his wheelhouse.
Thank you for the report sir...Hope Syndey is treating you well...Cheers&smiles to you.

[hoots]

The TBM is a nice aircraft, thanks for the video. Condolences to the family.

[zxa]

Thanks Juan. We appreciate what you do.

[scottmahanes]

Hey Juan, a few years ago you did a video about N690LS which crashed in WI. Yesterday, May 5, its sister plane N690BM crashed just a few miles from my house in VA. Two souls on board, neither survived. Not sure how to send you a link to the news story, but thought you might be interested to know if you haven’t heard yet. Thanks for the great vids you make, keep up the excellent work!

[akiko]

Icing over the Sierras can be deadly. Lots of planes have turned into lawn darts, even when FIKI equipped.