Pilot Debrief

COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT MFG LC42 550FG near Truckee, CA — 2014-03-21

Final reportWPR14LA146
Sign in to save
Date
2014-03-21
Location
Truckee, CA, USA
Airport
TRK
Aircraft
COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT MFG LC42 550FG
Registration
N112FP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during both the landing and the subsequent attempted go-around.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before landing, he obtained the current weather for the destination airport, which indicated that wind was from 260 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern for runway 29 and conducted an uneventful landing. Shortly after, the airplane suddenly veered left. The pilot attempted to regain directional control by applying rudder; however, he felt that the airplane was going to tip left, so he decided to initiate a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the airplane exited the runway surface, bounced, and struck terrain adjacent to the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have initiated a go-around sooner after the initial veer.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps