- Date
- February 10, 1993, 08:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Truckee, CA
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N711LTCessna 414
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930210002199A
- Case key
- 27823
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The decision of the pilot not to follow instrument flight rule procedures during instrument meteorological conditions and poor preflight planning which resulted in operation of the airplane over the maximum gross weight and reduced performance. Factors in the accident were the foggy weather conditions, and high terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A Cessna 414 collided with a tree in a mountainous residential area about 1 mile from the airport. Instrument meteorological conditions with 1/8 mile visibility prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed, but was not opened. The airplane departed under visual flight rules. The elevation of the collision was about 100 feet higher than the airport. The standard instrument departure procedures for the airport prescribe takeoff minimums of 3,500 foot ceiling and 3 miles visibility. The procedure requires a minimum climb rate of 425 feet per nautical mile, a right turn after takeoff to intercept a 002 degree radial off a VOR, and a climb to a specified altitude. The airman's information manual recommends that pilots climb to 400 feet AGL before turning when executing standard instrument departure under IFR. The airplane was also determined to be about 400 pounds over maximum gross weight at the time of the takeoff. The wreckage examination disclosed no evidence of any pre existing aircraft or engine malfunctions or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N711LT
- Reported as
- Cessna 414
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 414-0630
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-J, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Means, Gary L.
- Registered owner
- Means, Gary L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- TRK
- Destination
- FMN · Farmington, NM
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 387 total · 230 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Temperature
- 19 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TRK, 2 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.