# NTSB LAX92LA359: TBM TBM 700, N339W, So. Lake Tahoe, CA, August 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1992, 13:03 local (20:03 UTC)
- Place: So. 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: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27739
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA359
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27739/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA359

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO ADEQUATELY ANTICIPATE AND COMPENSATE FOR THE VARIABLE CROSS WIND CONDITION, AND, THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LEFT SEAT PILOT'S LIMITED TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT TYPES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - weather condition - gusts
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lack of total experience, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS, THE AIRCRAFT OWNER, WHO HOLDS A COMMERCIAL PILOT AND CFI CERTIFICATES, WAS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. A FRIEND OF THE PILOT, A 246 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT WITH NO EXPERIENCE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE TURBINE POWERED AIRCRAFT, WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT AND FLYING THE AIRCRAFT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE OWNER. WHILE ON A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT WAS ADVISED THREE TIMES BY THE ATCT OF A VARIABLE RIGHT CROSS WIND FROM 200 TO 220 DEGREES AT SPEEDS FROM 8 TO 14 KNOTS, WITH HIGHER GUST COMPONENTS. THE TOWER ALSO ADVISED THE FLIGHT OF REPORTS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 18 WHEN A SUDDEN CROSS WIND GUST LIFTED THE RIGHT WING. THE PRIVATE PILOT DID NOT CORRECT THE SITUATION AND THE AIRCRAFT OWNER COULD NOT OVERPOWER THE OTHER PILOTS CONTROL INPUTS IN TIME TO CORRECT FOR THE WIND GUST. THE LEFT WING TIP DRUG THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND INTO AN AIRPORT FENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N339W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N339W-1992-10-21), registration cancelled 1992-10-21, S/N 39 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TBM, SA TBM 700
- Registry model: [Socata TBM 700](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tbm-700) (registry code 8682000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 39
- Airframe hours: 94
- Engines: P&W PT6A-64 700 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Walt K. Weissman, doing business as Stage Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Wstage Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1992, 94 hours before
- Departed: MRY, MONTERY, CA
- Destination: TVL, SO. LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TVL, So. Lake Tahoe, runway 18, 8,544 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 845 total, 50 in this make and model, 788 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °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 19920822032549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920822032549A), Aug 22, 1992: Socata TBM700, South Lake Taho, CA, Destroyed. PIC was allowing friend to land in gusty crosswind. Wind picked up wing. PIC unable overpower friend. Ground looped

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.