Date: 201702
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: TRK.Airport, CA
Flight conditions: Mixed
Weather elements / visibility: Snow; Icing; Cloudy; Turbulence
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Operator: Air Taxi
Operating under: Part 135
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class E ZOA
ATC / advisory: CTAF TRK; Center ZOA
Reporter organization: Air Taxi
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Workload; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Weather; Procedure
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: Assigned part 135 flight to TRK; 2 passengers; departing early afternoon. TRK AWOS reporting 10 miles and clear. Runway 29/11 open; Runway 20/02 closed (for snow removal). Anticipating build-ups over Sierras filed IFR to TRK at 11;000. Boarded passengers with one requesting copilot seat and headset. Departed VFR (IFR to be picked up later if needed). Picked up IFR clearance direct SWR; and direct AWEGA. Advised ATC that intention was to overfly TRK; and cancel IFR if visual. Cleared direct SWR; direct TRK; direct AWEGA; and direct TRK at 13;000. No visual on TRK however TRK AWOS still reporting 10 miles and clear. Proceeded direct AWEGA in VFR conditions well above cloud deck. Noted large clear area over valley at approximately 10 miles from AWEGA. TRK AWOS still reporting 10 miles and clear. Requested cancellation of IFR with descent and turn towards TRK. Cancellation of IFR acknowledged by ATC; cleared to switch to Unicom frequency. ATC advised that another aircraft was on the Runway 20 RNAV approach to TRK and was several miles toward TRK from my position. TRK AWOS still reporting 10 miles and clear. At approximately 7200 MSL and 3 to 4 miles from TRK I am suddenly engulfed in a white-out condition and at the same instant I hear the other aircraft announced it is going missed. Normally would have made an immediate 180 degree turn to right (towards lower terrain) but wanted to avoid any conflict with the aircraft on the missed approach. Elected to proceed toward TRK with intention of making climbing turns over the field (by GPS reference). Requested status of Runway 20 from Unicom; advised still closed. Proceeded toward TRK and started climbing turns.Passenger in co-pilot seat panicked and created extreme distraction. Entered accelerated stall condition due to inadvertent overbank in turn. Pitched down to recover; re-established climb; and diverted. Traffic warning system did not alarm throughout entire event and had no indication of traffic on visual display (no conflict with the other aircraft). Re-established contact with ATC. Completed uneventful approach and landing at divert airport.Assure the contribution of IFR flight ops until field is definitely in sight and landing is assured. Reject the consideration of VFR approach/landing when another aircraft is on the approach. Do not allow the presence of distracting factors.




Synopsis: Air taxi pilot reported experiencing whiteout conditions while VFR on approach to TRK. A passenger in the right seat panicked; distracting the pilot which lead to a stall and recovery during the IMC missed approach.