Bonanza crashed near Visalia Airport(KVIS)

Peter Ha

Peter Ha

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Nov 18, 2019
Messages
226
Display Name
Display name:
Leadpan
"The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into what caused the Saturday plane crash that killed four people near Highway 99 south of Visalia in Tulare County.
The identities of the four people on the plane had not been released and the FAA had yet to release the aircraft registration number, but according to flight records and an FAA database, the plane that left Visalia Municipal Airport just before the crash was registered to David Chelini from Sacramento. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, the plane made an 1 hour, 2 minute flight from Sacramento earlier Saturday afternoon. It is not clear where the plane was headed from Visalia."

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/crime/article256349682.html
 
I was in the central valley Saturday. It was foggy and at 6:37 it was dark. Devastating for this family.
 
Last edited:
N7933M. Looks like things went south almost immediately after a left turnout to the west following a nighttime takeoff reportedly into fog.

FlightAware indicates the plane flew pretty regularly, including a prior trip between Sacramento and Visalia last Thursday. FWIW, a quick review of track logs appears to show most (if not all) flying done at VFR altitudes.
 
flightwriter said:
N7933M. Looks like things went south almost immediately after a left turnout to the west following a nighttime takeoff reportedly into fog.

FlightAware indicates the plane flew pretty regularly, including a prior trip between Sacramento and Visalia last Thursday. FWIW, a quick review of track logs appears to show most (if not all) flying done at VFR altitudes.
Click to expand...
Climbing turns in the beginning of a flight is where I get the leans the most when IMC. Near comical.
 
News is already reporting that no flight plan was filed, if true, this was a VFR flight at night into near 0/0 conditions. This makes me so mad at the pilot, even the news seizes the opportunity to portray small planes as dangerous.
 
Sorry to hear this. I've been working on PPL training about 60 miles south of Visalia. It seems like we went 4-5 years here with zero fog, then this year it's been awful. We've cancelled about every other training flight due to visibility.
 
Looks like the left turnout was initiated at maybe 175' AGL (deducing from the GPS altitude on ADSExchange.com).
screenshot1.png
 
MalibuJim said:
News is already reporting that no flight plan was filed, if true, this was a VFR flight at night into near 0/0 conditions. This makes me so mad at the pilot, even the news seizes the opportunity to portray small planes as dangerous.
Click to expand...
Any idea what the METAR was at the time?
 
Kenny Taylor said:
Sorry to hear this. I've been working on PPL training about 60 miles south of Visalia. It seems like we went 4-5 years here with zero fog, then this year it's been awful. We've cancelled about every other training flight due to visibility.
Click to expand...


I too live about 100 miles NORTH of VIS, and yes the fog has been unusually bad this year. I love hard IFR, but I have elected to drive some of my trips over the past month for fears my destinations are below minimums. Those conditions, especially at night were LIFR or worse.
 
Part of the story is that it was so foggy on the ground that it took 30m plus to find the aircraft even though they knew about where it was at (in an empty field)
 
wayneda40 said:
Thanks @asicer , I was foxed by ADSBexchange showing the incident on the UTC date of 5-Dec (with the local date being 4-Dec). As you noted, the AWOS showed nearly identical LIFR on both days/times.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but the hours leading up to the crash were VFR. If only they had departed 12 minutes earlier...
 
I was riding my motorcycle through the coast, mountains and central valley all day, Sunday.

It was low IFR for the motorcycle.

I didn’t see the sun until I made the Grapevine pass North of LA.

Tough day for even the best IR pilot.
 
Another reason I refuse to fly VFR except under a set of limited circumstances.

Kenny Taylor said:
Sorry to hear this. I've been working on PPL training about 60 miles south of Visalia. It seems like we went 4-5 years here with zero fog, then this year it's been awful. We've cancelled about every other training flight due to visibility.
Click to expand...

Good time for IFR training though.
 
I've departed IFR in low visibility fog a few times. It's not that hard. I transition to instruments before I lift off. Nose up attitude and positive steady rate on the VSI are the first priorities. You can see the runway edges even in pretty dense fog. I was younger and wilder back then. Not something I'd do often. It's tempting fate.
 
s35pilot said:
I've departed IFR in low visibility fog a few times. It's not that hard. I transition to instruments before I lift off. Nose up attitude and positive steady rate on the VSI are the first priorities. You can see the runway edges even in pretty dense fog. I was younger and wilder back then. Not something I'd do often. It's tempting fate.
Click to expand...

You transition to instruments while still on the ground before you lift off?
 
MalibuJim said:
You transition to instruments while still on the ground before you lift off?
Click to expand...

Back in the military you got the jet at 80 kts on the runway, under the hood. One may not need that position, but by rotation, one should be on the gyro. The night cat shot is a similar scenario, instruments, immediately.
 
MalibuJim said:
You transition to instruments while still on the ground before you lift off?
Click to expand...

My first IFR training takeoff was under the hood. The whole ground run. I was like, "whatever you say boss." Didn't know that was even a thing but it worked out fine
 
KeepWatch said:
My first IFR training takeoff was under the hood. The whole ground run. I was like, "whatever you say boss." Didn't know that was even a thing but it worked out fine
Click to expand...
I did a couple of these during IFR training. Surprisingly not difficult.
 
N1120A said:
Good time for IFR training though.
Click to expand...

No, it really isn't. The Tule fog in the central valley of California is usually about 100-500 feet of visibility. Well below any approach minimums, and well below any Part 135 takeoff minimums (Part 91 allows for 0/0 takeoff). Also, the fog is usually only a couple hundred feet thick. So even if you do have the visibility to takeoff, you are only in it for maybe 1 minute, then you pop out of the top in severe clear. So, definitely not good weather for IFR flying/training.
 
MalibuJim said:
You transition to instruments while still on the ground before you lift off?
Click to expand...

If you are taking off into low visibility, it is a very good idea.

Direct C51 said:
No, it really isn't. The Tule fog in the central valley of California is usually about 100-500 feet of visibility. Well below any approach minimums, and well below any Part 135 takeoff minimums (Part 91 allows for 0/0 takeoff). Also, the fog is usually only a couple hundred feet thick. So even if you do have the visibility to takeoff, you are only in it for maybe 1 minute, then you pop out of the top in severe clear. So, definitely not good weather for IFR flying/training.
Click to expand...

It would obviously depend on if you have a good option to go missed and still be able to land somewhere.
 
N1120A said:
If you are taking off into low visibility, it is a very good idea.



It would obviously depend on if you have a good option to go missed and still be able to land somewhere.
Click to expand...

When the central valley is socked - your alternates could be a good bit away. I.E. Palmdale:ish for Bakersfield folks, so, as always, you'd want to be sure to think that through and have the proper fuel reserves.
 
man that's a bummer and very sad. can't imagine taking off low IFR in the central valley. it's going to mean fog all over
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top