Accident Details
The aircraft departed Truckee-Tahoe Airport (TRK) to the northeast under marginal visual flight rules (VFR) conditions at sunset. It continued on a northeasterly heading for 18 miles, then turned to a westerly heading and continued until it was about 8 miles north of TRK. The pilot then turned the aircraft to a southwesterly heading until it collided with a tree at the 5,000-foot mean sea level (MSL) elevation.
Flight Path
Radar data showed the aircraft flying along a ridge that traverses the airport 8 miles to the north in an east/west direction. The accident location and the departure airport are situated in a mountainous area.
Weather
The Automatic Weather Observing System (AWOS) disclosed that rain existed near the accident area at the time of the accident.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage disclosed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions and/or failures.