ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 147941
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| Date: | Saturday 25 August 2012 |
| Time: | 21:45 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32-301T Turbo Saratoga |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N588ET |
| MSN: | 32-8024044 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3381 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Barton Meadow, South Lake Tahoe, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | South Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL) |
| Fresno, CA (FAT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
While taxiing to the ramp, the airplane’s engine shut down, and it took the pilots numerous attempts to restart it. After parking, the pilots reported to the attendants that the airplane’s fuel/air mixture was difficult to establish at such a high-density altitude and that, if the engine was operated too lean, its temperature exceeded normal operation parameters. Later that day, the pilots departed in dark night conditions. During the takeoff roll, most of the runway length was used before the airplane began to climb. Several witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be having engine problems and, after being airborne for about 3 seconds, it descended into terrain. Additionally, some witnesses reported that the engine sounded as if it was not producing full power and that the ascent seemed labored. The airplane impacted trees located on flat terrain about 2,400 feet from the end of the runway. The main wreckage was consumed by postimpact fire. Examination of the accident site revealed that the right wing impacted a tree in a wings-level attitude. The postaccident examinations revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Although it could not be confirmed, it is likely that the left-seat pilot was the flying pilot and that the right-seat pilot, who owned the airplane and had been consuming alcohol before the flight, was not the pilot-in-command.
Probable Cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examinations revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation and the pilots’ decision to continue the departure in dark night conditions with the engine not producing full power.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: https://www.sierrasun.com/article/20120826/NEWS/120829955/1066&ParentProfile=1051
http://carsonnow.org/story/08/25/2012/plane-crashes-south-lake-tahoe-sparking-wildfire
http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local/TAHOE-PLANE-CRASH-167481665.html
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=588ET
http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local/story/Fresno-Plane-Crashes-In-South-Lake-Tahoe/7TOnFp8rMEadGoeh-u8nIg.cspx
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 5 March 2005 | N588ET | David White | 0 | Destin, Florida | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 26-Aug-2012 13:06 | Geno | Added |
| 26-Aug-2012 21:38 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 27-Aug-2012 09:31 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 28-Nov-2017 13:19 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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