Tragic Flight of the TBM 960 N960LP | Failed Missed Approach-Truckee | Flight Simulator Re-enactment

On March 30, 2024, a TBM 960 crashed near the Truckee Tahoe airport. With reported weather minimums below the RNAV approach procedure, the aircraft failed to execute the missed approach with husband and wife on board. Several sources of data including the preliminary NTSB report were used to simulate the flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The final NTSB report is pending at the time of publishing this video.
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Timestamps:
Intro 0:05
Departure 1:29
Last Communication from ATC 3:01
Descent to FL220 4:20
Cleared for the Approach 4:47
Glide Path Capture 5:14
RNAV Runway Offset 6:35
Crash 9:00
Accident Site 9:17
At Issue 10:11
(Condolences to all the families associated with this accident)
Music:
A Kind of Hope by Scott Buckley
Ethereal by Punch Deck
Labile Polvere by Mattia Vlad Morleo
We Are Saved by Borrtex
#planecrash #emergency #documentary

[@michaelmcmanus5196]

Regardless of experience level, pilots can learn from accidents such as this one. Hard lesson learn for the new pilot and the experienced aviator can think of what they’d have done and not done. We all learn something from these videos. Thanks for video and time to compose.

[@TheFlightLevel]

Thanks very much for your kind words! Certainly appreciate that you feel the value in this type of video! Cheers!

[@edwardrichardson5567]

I grew up flying on steam guages so to say. These pilots by the most sophisticated/ complex aircraft but have no stick & Rudder skills. Mind blowing to say the least.

[@V1_R0TA8]

Flawed ADM

[@ilynx2008]

Hi there,I am an ATP in real,learned to fly on 172´s and Cubs ,and now a "sophisticated and complex" B737! Also,I flew many times on a TBM,solo! So,I agree with you on ,maybe,a lack of skills that I notice on many pilots today,but thats a cultural as well as an educational issue! I love to disconect the auto on final and bring it down the runway with hands and feet,starting at the MDA.I feel sorry for that tragic loss,but lrts consider everything,including spacial disorientation! best regards

[@daveslow84]

Having "stick and rudder skills" gives you zero advantage when you're in zero vis... This sounds like a decision making issue, disoriented pilot etc... perhaps tired, perhaps they were arguing, perhaps all sorts but to just default to "kids these days/back in my day" arguments is just not fair and a little stuck up ;)

[@gottadomor7438]

Very impressive YT - well-produced & respectfully professional. Condolences to loved ones' loss.

[@TheFlightLevel]

I appreciate your words! It is great to receive feedback like this. Blue skies!

[@Keys879]

IF YOU DO NOT SEE THE RUNWAY AT THE MDA/DA/DH you must go around! Airspeed, airspeed, airspeed! Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. In. That. Order!!!

[@ilynx2008]

Well,I agree but all these are new stuff! 30 years ago,even without all and all,I learned that very thing and after a few thousand hours under my belt ,still alive and well,and believe me,if you are a good pilot,those fancy things you mentioned come instinctively!

[@brandonadams7837]

Based on the forecast, poor ADM to even attempt this flight.

[@user-ip7rt8mg7w]

So many of these types of accidents. Planes flown by people with a rudimentary understanding of just what it means to have the skill set to do so. Sad sad sad.

[@nereanim]

money > brains

[@user-md6os4nq1b]

Another very well done video, thank you, the work really shows. When the final report comes out on this accident will you make a part2 to this video? Also, could you make a video covering the story of N44DC? The story is a good lesson for pilots on the effect of a high work load.

[@TheFlightLevel]

Thanks very much! Yes, I stayed in the editing phase with this one a little longer than usual to add extra content, and perhaps it shows! I will definitely do a wrap up video when the final NTSB report is released. Thanks for the suggestion about N44DC. I will look into available source material and see what I can do 🙂Cheers!

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

Reno/Tahoe/Truckee has terrible weather during the winter months. Besides the amount of snow that Truckee gets the winds are "very" unpredictable. In thirty years of flying into Reno (commercial flights) I have experienced at least five touch and goes due to bad winds. If you are a local you know to prepare for landings in Reno. In those conditions they flew in, the pilot knew that the roads up to Truckee from Reno (Hwy 80) would maybe have been closed due to snow. Maybe, Get-there-itis?

[@TheFlightLevel]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the info! Yes, I think some get-there-itis played into the equation after more than 3 hours in the air. Maybe pushed his piloting skills too far in poor weather. Very, very unfortunate. BTW - beautiful watercolour paintings! A very distinctive style! Cheers!

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

Thanks for the kind words! This helps amateur artists to keep plugging away!

[@AlanMydland-fq2vs]

just when ya need airport lights their 3:03 arent any. very important, a huge help😢

[@smh988]

definitely one of the better, if no the best, of these type of YT accident reconstructions. thanks

[@TheFlightLevel]

Thanks very much for the compliments! Constantly learning and improving! Blue skies!

[@JohnBaileyDarke]

Well done video. Few pilots would have made the decision to land on 20 with calm winds. Most would have put in at Reno and hired an Uber to take them to Truckee or to their home at Inclinve Village. A sad day for all concerned and a lesson for all pilots to learn. Thanks for your thoughtful explanation of all the factors.

[@nereanim]

Money for an expensive plane doesn't mean you can fly it in any weather. I wouldn't take my 172 with 1 VOR to minimums ever and so shouldn't most non professional pilots. I am a CFI and A&P but one's man gotta know their limitations.

[@ilynx2008]

Hi there,but to you know his ratings? what if? The 960 is fully capable to fly in that kind of weather and worse,so whats the point? to me he became spacial disoriented and or confused,maybe even impaired,we have to consider everything!

[@brandonadams7837]

@@ilynx2008and that’s why they are dead. Thinking a highly capable aircraft makes you a better pilot.

[@eracer1111]

I wonder if they had synthetic vision turned on in their G3000. In the video you could plainly see the runway off to the right on approach on the PFD.

[@AlanMydland-fq2vs]

syn vision the new life saver for pilots that are very rusty😂

[@MrSuzuki1187]

All he had to do was to activate the missed approach mode and his navigator and flight director would fly the published missed approach.

[@lbowsk]

GAWD don't say that. Just "push this button" or "push that button". Does that plane have auto throttle? Does the gear come up automatically? The flaps? Does the GPS automatically sequence to the missed approach when he blundered off its course? Did the missed approach altitude automatically populate in the Altitude Preselect? I disagree with you. Vehemently. All he had to do was FLY his airplane properly and use the tools available to help him fly his airplane. "Going Around... TOGA/Max Thrust... Flaps X.... Pos Rate - Gear up....... Set/Confirm Missed Approach Altitude..." That's the Aviate part. Get the plane going up hill now. Reconfigure. THEN make damn sure the plane was flying the published approach while climbing to the published altitude. SOME VERSION of the litany I posted should have been coming out of his mouth as he was descending THROUGH the MDA for the approach (that he was off course of). Pilots need to rely LESS on automation and MORE on repetition of their skills. A LOT of todays pilots need to turn the AP OFF more and learn to hand fly their planes with a high degree of precision and accuracy.

[@scottbeyer101]

I could be confusing this with another accident pilot, but I believe this aircraft had an ADSB history of circle to land procedures into Truckee. That would explain why he had not brought up the gear. Circle to land minimums are another couple hundred feet HIGHER and require 1.5 miles vis -- twice the vis he had. IFR flight rules are not recommendations. He had probably broken them before, but in better conditions, and got away with it, normalizing deviations. RIP.

[@TheFlightLevel]

Thanks for this! Your explanation certainly fits with the failure to climb. Very sad if this is indeed the case. Not wise to push the limits in bad weather and hope Mother Nature will forgive. Cheers!

[@jimw1615]

Your comment reflects exactly what I had surmised from what is currently known.

[@TheFlightLevel]

@@jimw1615 There was a comment on Aviation News Talk that I did not mention. The visibility was actually less than 1/2 mile at the time of the accident. The circling to land is 1.5 miles for the RNAV 20. Hard to imagine the mindset of the pilot if he was indeed circling to land with such reduced visibility.

[@jimw1615]

@@TheFlightLevel The pilot knew visibility conditions were extremely restricted well before he started his let-down and approach. "Get-there-itis" was the overwhelming factor for his discission to attempt the landing and attempt to do it twice, in my opinion.

[@Bren39]

Why would he attempt a circle to land on 29 when that was initially offered to him. The ground track basically shows him flying straight past the runway 20, levelling off..obviously he was looking and then gave up and did the missed.

[@navajojohn9448]

Wealthy non pro/non career/not active flying owner operators should just hire an experienced safety pilot. Cheap insurance.

[@TheFlightLevel]

Your point is certainly well taken. Very tragic ending if indeed the workload and the absence of proficiency to handle a missed approach in bad weather was the main reason that led to loss of control. Exceeding your limits in the final approach after more than 3 hours in the air is a strong story line lesson. Blue skies!

[@alalal8157]

Catch 22.... Couldnt have become wealthy by giving money away.... Ended up paying for it w his life

[@AlanMydland-fq2vs]

ive right seated for lots of people,safty pilot ifr flight training. right seated kingairs, citations. the simple fact is owners just want to SP the thing, jusr dont want ya for all reasons.😢 sad fact extra pilot helps in all areas and develops another pilot❤

[@Bren39]

I think many times it's just not convenient. Eg this was their home airport. So assuming they went somewhere for vacation or biz.. They take a pro pilot with then.. Then what? They would have to house him+food etc for a few days or have him fly back commercial.. or him fly the plane back and then return for pickup. So you see the logistics get complicated.. Not to mention expense.

[@DaddyRecon1]

A safety pilot probably helpful, but who knows what the pilot was thinking planning this flight. Interesting that if he had gotten the weather, should have known about the visibility issue, and just proceed to his alternate. Wonder if he even filed one 🤔. Sad case ….

[@ilynx2008]

I think he became disoriented on those final moments,it happened so fast,everything was fine until thr mda,why those auto inputs? it seems he let the airplane fly ahead of him,(was he planning for a missed?) weird accident,I flew the TBM solo a few times ,at night ,bad weather and it is awsome! I advocate for every pilot to do an ATP course even flying non commercial,it bringas safety to a supreme level!

[@Scorpmustang]

The TBM should require a Type rating, just like the small Jets. It is a much too demanding aircraft for a non professional. Very sad ending - R.I.P

[@ClearedAsFiled]

Intentionally flying below the MDA is reckless and irresponsible.....ugh

[@James-if1eu]

Were the runway lights not operational? 12:44

[@TheFlightLevel]

@@James-if1eu Your time stamp is at the end of the video. Audio from the CTAF revealed clicking sounds. So, one can assume the runway lights were on. This indicates just how bad the visibility was, as the pilot still did not align the plane to the runway.

[@ilynx2008]

I dont think he intentionaly did it ,at that point he was confused and or disoriented,maybe impaired,we just dont know! I will be soon become anntsb investigator and to assume things as you did is like,to be sarcastic here,flying blind!

[@nickm764]

so it looks at first blush it's a matter of a pilot being much better at watching the plane fly itself than actually flying the plane.

[@NaptownPete]

I hope all aspiring pilots and interested learners (me) dive into these videos and reports. From my career with the Navy, a full ORM brief shall be executed before any mission. Not knowing the runway lights were inop indicates a flight plan review was at best minimal. Sorry for the family and victims.

[@dougcarlisle7557]

The pilot was a friend of mine. Really tragic. He flew right over KRNO which had much better weather. Only a 30 minute UBER up the hill from there to KTRK.

[@TheFlightLevel]

So sorry to hear this. I know some of these videos resonate strongly with some. Very tragic pushing the limits in bad weather. The urge to get home ASAP does not fit well with Mother Nature so often. Know that many thoughts are with you and all the other friends and family. Regards!

[@haiwatigere6202]

Does density altitude apply during snowing conditions?. This plane crashed in snow.

[@fishman211]

Just curious as to whether the 960 had the "Home Safe" system though it probably wouldn't have helped in this situation.

[@TheFlightLevel]

Thanks for watching. I am not 100% sure, but I don’t think this plane had that feature. I assume the aircraft has to be high enough also for all aspects of the “Home Safe” to operate correctly. Cheers!

[@Fcreceptor]

Over-reliance on AP in icing and ignoring minimums way too late.

[@TheFlightLevel]

Quite true about using the AP in icing conditions. AP kicks off and the trims are excessive when taking manual control. Add in poor visibility and stress and you become way behind the airplane!

[@RustyAimer787]

Medevac is one of the most dangerous and stressful type of flying. Single pilot operation of which in night IMC and inclement weather is simply a suicide mission!

[@RustyAimer787]

Medevac is one of the most dangerous and stressful type of flying. Single pilot operation of which at night IMC and in weather is simply a suicide mission!

[@MrSuzuki1187]

He is operating under Part 91 so he is legal to fly the approach even if the viz is less than minimums.

[@Bren39]

I’m pretty sure that is not correct. Yes he can continue past the faf for a peek if above mins before faf..but there are still rules 91 pilots must abide by.

[@ilynx2008]

Yes,absolutely! But we cant assume anything at this point,we have to go by the facts,the evidence! Is so sad!

[@garybaldwin1061]

@@Bren39 part 91 doesn't say you cant do the approach below visibility minimums. Its flight/pilot visibility...not whats reported. If your operating part 135/121 you cant start the approach with reported visibility below min. I don't know what you mean going past the faf for a peek.

[@JustMe00257]

These wealthy guys operating high performance aircraft in marginal conditions are really asking for it. They should have the humility and self awareness to acknowledge their own limits and have a commercial pilot aboard. At the very least, they should follow the rules and actually add a good buffer to them in order to have a decent safety margin. They have no idea how challenging the conditions they put themselves in can be. Crazy. Edit: typo

[@ilynx2008]

I very much disagree with you and here is why : I am an ATP in real with 30 years of flying hours,currenctly fly a B737.So,none of what you sad is exceptionaly challenging and all! I am not wealthy but flew (and will) fly the 960,solo,night,IMC,fog,rain,etc...and so what? If the pilot is as capable as the airplane he is flying,just be a pilot and fly those wonderful birds and believe me there will be no drama,just satisfaction!

[@notlisted-cl5ls]

lololo. couldda gone around. classic more money than brains. its an american problem

[@yamahale]

so are you.