# Accident 20170417015049A: Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD, Loyalton, CA, April 17, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 2017, 16:00 local time
- Place: Loyalton, CA
- Airport: Truckee-Tahoe
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5411° N, 120.4706° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5411&lon=-120.4706&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28070, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28070-2018-02-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD (registry code 8680695, https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-20-trinidad) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TB-20 TRINIDAD
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 627 total, 129 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170417015049A

## Narrative

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

BRENDA RICHARD RECEIVED A WEATHER BREIFING ALONG WITH A FIRST HAND PILOT REPORT FROM A PILOT WHO JUST LANDED. THAT PILOT STATED THE WEATHER WAS RAPIDLY DETERIORATING , AND RECOMMENDED AGAINST FLYING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.

NOT HAVING AN INSTRUMENT RATING, SHE DEPARTED TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA AND ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR THE WEATHER BY HEADING NORTH BEFORE TURNING SOUTHWEST TO PETALUMA, CALIFORINA.

SHE WAS OBSERVED CIRCLING A CABIN NEAR THE CRASH SITE. THE SNOW WAS BECOMMING HEAVY, AND WIDESPREAD AT THAT TIME.

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A LARGE PINE TREE IN A RIGHT BANK AND A NOSE LOW ANGLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, RESULTING IN THE FATALITY OF BOTH OCCUPANTS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESROYED.

## 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 WPR17FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA105), Apr 17, 2017: Socata TB 20 Trinidad (N28070), Sierraville, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.

## Other reports on N28070 (1)

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

- [Incident 20081023853069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081023853069I), Oct 23, 2008: Socata TB20TRINIDAD (N28070), Portland, ME, Minor damage. N28070 departed presque isle, ME (pqi) at approximately 1400 hrs. With a destination of Portland, ME. One PIC and one female passenger, N28070 was on an angel…

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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