# NTSB SEA90LA068: Truckee Meadows Tierra II, N52744, Moscow, ID, April 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1990, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Moscow, ID
- Coordinates: 46.710048, -116.909957 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7100&lon=-116.9100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41187
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41187/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA068

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER AIRSPEED DURING THE CLIMB TO CRUISE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A CLIMBING TURN. DURING THE TURN THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE WENT UP THEN DROPPED NEARLY STRAIGHT TO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO BE RUNNING TO THE POINT OF COLLISION. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52744](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52744-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 3385324 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TRUCKEE MEADOWS TIERRA II
- Registry model: [Truckee Meadows TIERRA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/truckee-meadows-tierra-ii) (registry code 05675NN) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3385324
- Engines: Rotax 6-823-950 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Benham, Van S.
- Registered owner: Freilgn, Dan
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: NONE, VIOLA, ID
- Destination: LWS, LEWISTON, ID
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PUW, 5 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 19900415008859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900415008859A), Apr 15, 1990: Amtrte TIERRA2, Moscow, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed to ferry ultralight to new owner. On climb, stalled and dived into ground.

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.

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