Cessna 340A N5350J

Summary

On 17 February 1991 at about 18:50 local time, a Cessna 340A registered N5350J, operated by Frank Johnson, was involved in an accident near Truckee, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 February 1991 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Truckee, California, United States

Nearest airport

Truckee-Tahoe (TRK)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 340A

Registration

N5350J

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Frank Johnson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Ynez → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA104

Nobody was injured.

THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW THE CORRECT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WHEN HE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE PROBLEMS AND IMPROPERLY USED THE FUEL BOOST PUMPS CONTRARY TO THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK. THE INITIAL CAUSE OF THE ENGINE SURGING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE DESCENT TO THE HIGH ALTITUDE AIRPORT THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE. THE PILOT RESET THE POWER AND MIXTURE CONTROLS BUT TO NO AVAIL. WHEN ON THE BASE LEG TO THE RUNWAY THE PILOT TURNED ON BOTH FUEL PUMPS, CONTRARY TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO BOTH ENGINES, BUT NONE AVAILABLE. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE AIRPLANE UNDERSHOT THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH ABOUT A 3 FOOT HOLE COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. SUBSEQUENT ENGINE RUN TESTS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE INITIAL SURGING DUE TO LIMITATIONS OF THE TEST CLUB, BUT WITH THE MIXTURE RICH AND BOTH BOOST PUMPS ON HIGH, BOTH ENGINES QUIT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.