# NTSB LAX96LA297: Piper PA-28-235, N9218W, Truckee, CA, August 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 1996, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Location: 39.3201° N, 120.1396° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TRUCKEE-TAHOE (TRK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3201&lon=-120.1396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29529/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA297 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly compensate for a crosswind component during the go-around in a high density altitude environment that led to a loss of aircraft control.. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind - crosswind component - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis Surface winds were from 250 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 22 knots as the aircraft approached to land on runway 28. The density altitude was 8,150 feet. During the landing flare the left wing of the aircraft rose and the aircraft started drifting toward the right side of the runway. The pilot elected to go-around and applied full throttle. During the go-around, the aircraft drifted off the runway and the right main landing gear contacted a mound of dirt. The aircraft settled back to the ground and spun around 180 degrees. There were no reported mechanical problems. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 1996, at 1415 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N9218W, impacted the terrain during an aborted landing at Truckee-Tahoe Airport, California. The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight which departed from Truckee about 1300 hours. In a telephone interview, the pilot told the NTSB investigator that he was returning to land on runway 28, and that he recalled the wind being from 270 degrees, gusting to 18 knots. During the landing flare the left wing came up and the aircraft started drifting toward the right side of the runway. The pilot decided to go-around and applied full throttle. During the go-around, the aircraft drifted further to the right, off the runway, and then over adjacent sagebrush. The right main gear contacted a mound of dirt and the aircraft settled back to the ground and spun around. It came to rest about 50 feet north of the runway, about midway between the runway 28 threshold and the runway 1/19 intersection, facing east. The pilot reported no mechanical problems. In the Truckee weather observation taken at 1345, surface winds were from 250 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 22 knots and the temperature was 77 degrees. The density altitude was 8,150 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9218W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9218W), registered now, S/N 28-10883, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10883 - Airframe hours: 2520 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Phillip M. Mandeville - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 1995, 82 hours before - Departed: TRK - Airport: TRK, Truckee Tahoe, runway 28, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 269 total, 82 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 41 °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 19960805020919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960805020919A), Aug 5, 1996: Piper PA28235, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. Drifted on landing flare. Began go around drifted more. Gear hit dirt mound settled. Spun around. 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.