Mooney down at Tahoe today. One fatality

[thinwing]

The photo of the crash site shows what appears to be undamaged propellor still attached to engine crankcase....engine is not running....what the witness/first responder heard was probably the instrument gyros running.The right turn to the east is in the wrong direction of recomended climb procedure for TVL that is clearly posted at FBO.That turn could have been uncommanded..I have flown completely arround the Tahoe basin in a sailplane several times ,always on hot days when the thermals are popping.That is what produces the squirrelly winds.Sailplane pilots out of Minden call it the "scenic tour"...leaving Tahoe late afternoon in the summer is not for the faint of heart!!

[wishboneash]

To me the real issue with high DA is the high ground speed needed to lift off. Losing directional control and correcting for that can be challenging. Once off the ground, things get a bit easier, it comes down to managing airspeed. I have had that experience at Truckee and it was not fun.

[Oscar Avalle]

My C model would barely climb at 10,000 with full fuel and 2 adults on board.  I took it to 12,000 a few times, but climb rates would be about 200 FPM at Vy above 10k.  Any faster or slower and virtually no climb at all.  The carb'd 180-HP O-360 is not a high altitude performer.

 

It would be very easy, taking off at 10k DA, to pull back a little too hard and lose your climb.  A little harder, staring at trees getting big in the windshield, and a stall could occur.

 

No idea if that happened to this pilot, but be careful out there.  Fly early and fly light if you're flying high.

I have to look into this issue all the time. My field elevation is 5k and temperatures are often high. after adding extra fuel capacity it becomes even more complicated. The other day I took off with 64 gal, 2 adults and 30 degrees Celcius and it was a real challenge... but doable.

[piperpainter]

I have to look into this issue all the time. My field elevation is 5k and temperatures are often high. after adding extra fuel capacity it becomes even more complicated. The other day I took off with 64 gal, 2 adults and 30 degrees Celcius and it was a real challenge... but doable.

 

Exactly, doable, as long as it's something you've done before or you've had experience with. And have a plan. I.e. don't climb into climbing terrain!