# NTSB LAX98LA114: Socata TBM 700, N345RD, Truckee, CA, March 14, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 1998, 19:00 local (Mar 14, 1998, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Location: 39.3166° N, 120.1214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from TRUCKEE-TAHOE (TRK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3166&lon=-120.1214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report August 3, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30050 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30050/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA114 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft due to spatial disorientation. A factor was the dark night. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, circling (ifr) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was cleared for a GPS approach. He stated that he was too high to make a good landing, so he opted for a circling approach to another runway. As he turned for the base leg, he lost visual contact and became disoriented. It was a dark night with no moon. The pilot realized that he was in a 70- to 80-degree left bank and returned the airplane to a level attitude, then noticed the ground directly in front of him. The aircraft ran through a barbed wire fence, collided with trees, and slid rearward to a stop in a high altitude meadow east of the airport. The FAA completed an evaluation of the circling approach procedures and night operations for that airport and did not find any problems. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 1998, about 1900 hours Pacific standard time, a Socata TBM 700, N345RD, collided with terrain about 0.5 miles east of the Truckee, California, airport. The airplane was destroyed, and the commercial pilot and three passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner. The flight originated from Gnoss Field in Novota, California, at 1800. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. The Truckee Airport was reporting visual meteorological conditions with 10 miles visibility and a 1,700-foot agl overcast ceiling. The pilot was cleared by Oakland Center Approach Control for a Global Positioning System (GPS) approach to runway 19. He reported that there was a bluff near runway 19 with housing on it, which made him uncomfortable, so he delayed his descent to the minimum descent altitude (MDA). When he did descend, he felt that he was too high too make a good landing on the runway so he opted instead to perform a circling approach to runway 28. The pilot stated that as he initiated a left turn for the base leg of runway 28, he became preoccupied with maintaining visual contact with the airport. It was a dark night with no moon. The pilot reported that he soon lost visual contact and became disoriented. The attitude indicator showed the aircraft to be in a 70- to 80-degree left bank. As the pilot returned the airplane to a straight and level attitude, he noticed the ground directly in front of him. The aircraft ran through a barbed wire fence, collided with trees, and slid rearward to a stop in a high altitude meadow east of the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration Flight Inspection Field Office in Sacramento, California, conducted an evaluation of the GPS approach for runway 19 with circle to land minimums at night for all categories, the elevation differential around the airport, and overall night operations at the Truckee Airport. They reported that they did not find any problems with the approach. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N345RD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N345RD-2002-03-29), registration cancelled 2002-03-29, S/N 76 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Socata TBM 700 - Registry model: [Socata TBM 700](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tbm-700) (registry code 8682000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-6-series) (registry code 52150, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 76 - Airframe hours: 1119 - Engines: P&W PT6A-64 700 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dolby, Ray M. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 1998, 4 hours before - Departed: O56, NOVATO, CA - Destination: TRK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 19, 4,650 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,088 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,940 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °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 19980313003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980313003409A), Mar 13, 1998: Socata TBM700, Truckee, CA, Destroyed. After GPS approach became disorientated circiling to land and flew into ground. (.4) the pilot was cleared for a GPS approach. He stated that he was too high… 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.