Cessna 414 N711LT

Summary

On 10 February 1993 at about 16:15 local time, a Cessna 414 registered N711LT, operated by Means, Gary L., was involved in an accident near Truckee, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 February 1993 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Truckee, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 414

Registration

N711LT

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Means, Gary L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Farmington

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93FA112

4 people died.

THE DECISION OF THE PILOT NOT TO FOLLOW INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULE PROCEDURES DURING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND REDUCED PERFORMANCE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND HIGH TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A CESSNA 414 COLLIDED WITH A TREE IN A MOUNTAINOUS RESIDENTIAL AREA ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH 1/8 MILE VISIBILITY PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED, BUT WAS NOT OPENED. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE ELEVATION OF THE COLLISION WAS ABOUT 100 FEET HIGHER THAN THE AIRPORT. THE STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE PROCEDURES FOR THE AIRPORT PRESCRIBE TAKEOFF MINIMUMS OF 3,500 FOOT CEILING AND 3 MILES VISIBILITY. THE PROCEDURE REQUIRES A MINIMUM CLIMB RATE OF 425 FEET PER NAUTICAL MILE, A RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF TO INTERCEPT A 002 DEGREE RADIAL OFF A VOR, AND A CLIMB TO A SPECIFIED ALTITUDE. THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL RECOMMENDS THAT PILOTS CLIMB TO 400 FEET AGL BEFORE TURNING WHEN EXECUTING STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE UNDER IFR. THE AIRPLANE WAS ALSO DETERMINED TO BE ABOUT 400 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE TAKEOFF. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE EXISTING AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.