# NTSB LAX94LA107: Piper PA-32-301, N82009, Truckee, CA, January 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 1994, 08:36 local (16:36 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Coordinates: 39.329082, -120.239379 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3291&lon=-120.2394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 6 minor - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28647/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA107 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DELAY IN HIS REMEDIAL ACTION, AND FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS. THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - object - airport facility - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A RUNWAY COVERED BY A THIN LAYER OF SNOW. ON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. AFTER THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER TO GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT WOULD NOT CLIMB AS THE PILOT FAILED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LEFT UNTIL IT STRUCK A FUEL ISLAND. A PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL SIMILAR TO THE SOUND THAT IT MADE WHEN THE FLIGHT DEPARTED. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 1994, at 0836 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32-301, N82009, lost control and collided with a fuel island while landing on runway 28 at Truckee-Tahoe Airport, Truckee, California. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and five passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at San Jose Airport, San Jose, California, at 0720 hours. Mr. Reid Walburg, Principal Operations Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration, Reno [Nevada] Flight Standards District Office, conducted the on-scene investigation. Inspector Walburg said the runway was covered with a minute layer of "dry snow." The pilot landed about 1,000 feet beyond the threshold at a slow airspeed. The pilot told Inspector Walburg that during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot momentarily arrested the left turn, but the airplane again turned left and the pilot applied full power to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot was unable to align the airplane with the runway and it continued going to the left. The airplane crossed two taxiways, a culvert, and then collided with the fuel island. Photographs taken by Inspector Walburg show that the left flap was fully extended. The pilot submitted the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, to the NTSB, Southwest Regional Office. The pilot indicated in the report that while descending he observed part of the runway had a black area that was sufficient for landing; the remaining runway was white [covered with snow]. The pilot landed on the center of the black portion of the runway at a slow airspeed and the airplane's flaps were fully extended. When the airplane entered the snow covered section of the runway, it began to drift to the left. The pilot applied right rudder, but without success; the airplane continued to the left. As the airplane approached the left edge of the runway, the pilot applied full throttle and the airplane began to accelerate. The airplane continued going to the left. As the pilot began to raise the airplane's nose up, the landing gear wheels entered the rough terrain after striking a runway edge light. The airplane became airborne, but did not gain much altitude. The flaps were still fully extended, and the airplane almost struck a taxiway sign. The pilot raised the flaps one notch, but without success; the airplane still did not begin to climb. The pilot did not have time to react when he saw the airplane approaching the fuel island. The airplane struck the fuel island, spun around, and stopped. The right front seat passenger (See Passenger Seating Table herein this report) said in a written statement that there was a "...light dusting of snow on the runway..." which obscured the runway centerline. However, he said that there were two black marks near the approach end of the runway made from previous landings of other airplanes. The pilot lined up the airplane to the left of, but parallel to, the runway centerline. After touch down, the airplane veered to the left and the pilot applied the flight controls, but with minimal effect. The pilot applied full throttle and the engine responded which sounded like the initial takeoff from San Jose. The pilot did not change the flap settings. The airplane became airborne and struck a "...yellow runway marker...." The airplane then collided with the fuel island poles. The remaining passengers did not notice anything unusual until after the airplane touched down and began skidding to the left. The passenger occupying seat 1A reported that while the pilot was circling the airport she observed the runway covered with a thin layer of snow. There were some tracks on the runway with an "...off grayish color which made the runway appear icy...." The airport manager submitted a "Report of Aircraft Accident/Incident." The manager said that the winds were calm and the airplane veered to the left after the initial touch down. After leaving the runway the pilot added power. The airplane continued toward the fuel island until it made contact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82009](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82009-1995-06-22), registration cancelled 1995-06-22, S/N 328206033 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8206033 - Airframe hours: 4193 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Williams, Joel Et Al - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1993, 100 hours before - Departed: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 28, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 788 total, 477 in this make and model, 635 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TRK ## 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 19940128001179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940128001179A), Jan 28, 1994: Piper PA32301, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. Veered left landing. Light snow obscured centerline. Tried go around full flaps. Lifted settled. Struck fuel island ## Other investigations on N82009 (2) 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 LAX86LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA060), Dec 5, 1985: Piper PA-32-301 (N82009), San Jose, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX84LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA306), May 20, 1984: Piper PA-32-301 (N82009), San Jose, CA, substantial damage 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.