# Accident 20120802016749A: Piper PA-24-250, Truckee, CA, August 2, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2012, 08:15 local time
- Place: Truckee, CA
- Airport: Truckee-Tahoe
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.3167° N, 120.1422° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3167&lon=-120.1422&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8218P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8218P-2018-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,737 total, 340 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12FA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA339) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120802016749A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 19 WITH FULL FUEL, TWO PASSENGERS AND BAGGAGE ON BOARD. THIS CONFIGURATION WAS DETERMINED TO BE OVER GROSS WEIGHT. NUMEROUS WITNESSES AND THE PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO HAVE ACCELERATED AND LIFTED OFF NORMALLY. ONE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PILOT ROTATED AT 80 KNOTS.  HOWEVER, AS THE AIRPLANE ASCENDED THROUGH ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WOBBLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THE PILOT SAID TO THE PASSENGERS THAT SOMETHING DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CLIMBING. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. DURING THE TAXI BACK, THE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS DISCUSSED WHY THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CLIMBING, INCLUDING POTENTIAL WEIGHT AND BALANCE ISSUES. THE PASSENGERS FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE PILOT TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY AND TAKEOFF ALONE IN ORDER TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ABNORMAL TAKEOFF. UPON RETURNING TO THE RAMP AREA, THE PILOT HAD BOTH PASSENGERS EXIT THE AIRPLANE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND THEN THE PILOT TAXIED BACK TO RUNWAY 19 FOR THE SECOND TAKEOFF. NUMEROUS WITNESSES AND THE WAITING PASSENGERS STATED THAT WHILE OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF THE SECOND TIME FROM RUNWAY 19, THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO LIFT OFF NORMALLY BUT ENTERED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AS IF IT WAS GOING TO "STALL." THE WITNESSES CONTINUED TO WATCH THE AIRPLANE CONTINUE ITS TAKEOFF WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND NOTICED THAT THE WINGS WOBBLED BACK AND FORTH PRIOR TO ENTERING A RIGHT TURN, AS THE RIGHT TURN CONTINUED WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN THE BANK ANGLE OF THE AIRPLANE INCREASED BEYOND 90-DEGREES AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO AN AIRPLANE HANGAR AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN ON THE HANGER FLOOR. ALL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF AND ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AND APPEARED TO BE PRODUCING POWER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR12FA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA339), Aug 2, 2012: Piper PA-24-250 (N8218P), Truckee, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment by prescription pain medication.

## Other reports on N8218P (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19970205004609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970205004609I), Feb 5, 1997: Piper PA24250 (N8218P), Fresno, CA, Minor damage. Narrative: N8218P, a Piper PA-24-250 commanche, departed medford, Oregon airport at approximately 1200 on a VFR flight to lancaster, CA. (Wjf). Near the…
- [Accident 19750919031689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750919031689A), Sep 19, 1975: Piper PA24250 (N8218P), Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. Distracted by otr acft on UNICOM.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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