Preliminary Reports
Series of Autopilot Engagements, Disengagements Preceded Crash
Daher TBM 700, March 30, 2024, Truckee, California
The single-engine turboprop was maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions to land at Truckee Tahoe Airport (KTRK) in California and crashed following a series of autopilot activations and deactivations, according to the NTSB preliminary report. The accident claimed the lives of the pilot and passenger.
Flying under Part 91 IFR, the aircraft was returning to KTRK from Denver’s Centennial Airport. The flight was uneventful until the airplane reached the final approach fix. The TBM 700 passed over the final approach fix, and FAA ADS-B data showed that, immediately thereafter, the autopilot’s approach mode was turned on and the altitude hold (ALT Hold) was turned off. Some 20 seconds after passing over the visual descent point at about 121 knots and 6,475 feet msl, ADS-B data shows the aircraft passed over the missed approach point at 6,200 feet msl and 100 knots and continued until abeam the runway identifier numbers (about 1,300 feet east).
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