# NTSB LAX89LA271: Beech C23, N60482, S Lake Tahoe, CA, August 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1989, 15:42 local (22:42 UTC)
- Place: S Lake Tahoe, CA
- Location: 38.8939° N, 119.9953° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKE TAHOE (TVL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8939&lon=-119.9953&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26474
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA271
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26474/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA271

## Probable cause

THE AIRCRAFT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION WHICH EXISTED AND THE AIRCRAFT'S DETERIORATED TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
  - airspeed - not possible, pilot in command
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - deteriorated (contributing factor)
- Miscellaneous/other, descent - emergency
  - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command
- Overrun, takeoff - aborted
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND WAS COGNIZANT THAT A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION EXISTED. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE RESPONDED IN CONCERT WITH THE PILOT'S EXPECTATIONS, AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN CLIMBING. AFTER PASSING OVER THE MIDFIELD LOCATION A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED DECREASED FROM 80 TO 65 KNOTS. THE RUNWAY WAS 8544 FEET LONG, AND THE PILOT, BELIEVING THE AIRCRAFT WOULD LIKELY NOT OUTCLIMB THE HIGH TERRAIN SOUTH OF THE FIELD, DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY APPLIED FULL FLAPS, LOWERED THE NOSE AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE END OF THE RUNWAY BY 100 YARDS AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60482](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60482-1991-08-21), registration cancelled 1991-08-21, S/N M2180 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2180
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Woodland Aviation, Inc.
- Departed: TVL, S LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Destination: 041, WOODLAND, CA
- Airport: TVL, Lake Tahoe, runway 18, 8,544 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 950 total, 133 in this make and model, 820 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVL, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890812028969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890812028969A), Aug 12, 1989: Beech C23, South Lake Taho, CA, Substantial damage. Unable to climb after liftoff due to a downdraft and high density altitude. Aborted late . Ran off end thru a fence

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.

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