S. LAKE TAHOE, CA, USA
N9734T
PIPER PA-38-112
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING LOW ALT TURN FOLLOWING TAKEOFF FROM THE SO. LAKE TAHOE ARPT. THE TOWER CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PLT, AFTER TAKEOFF, THAT HE COULD TURN AND CIRCLE THE VALLEY TO GAIN ALT BEFORE PROCEEDING ON COURSE. THE ACFT MADE ONE 360 DEG TURN AND STARTED ANOTHER. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN IT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE ACFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK THEGROUND. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL AND 'REVVED' UP BEFORE IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DENSITY ALT AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 8500 FT MSL. IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH THE ACFT WAS FOUND WITHIN CG LIMITS, CALCULATIONS REVEALED THAT THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GW LIMITS WERE EXCEEDED BEFORE AND AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. NO OTHER AIRCRAFT DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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