Piper PA-31-350 N48DH
24 July 1996 · Kneeland, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 24 July 1996 at about 15:15 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N48DH, operated by Union Flights, was involved in an accident near Kneeland, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kneeland, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Kneeland (019)
- Coordinates
- 40.8006, -124.1502
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350
- Registration
- N48DH
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Union Flights
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Sacramento → Arcata
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX96LA289
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed, during the landing, and his failure to execute a go-around, when a proper touchdown point was not attained.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot diverted to the planned alternate airport due to fog. The alternate airport was located on top of a ridge line about 2,700 feet higher than the planned destination airport. The runway was 2,200 feet long and had no services. According to witnesses, the pilot landed 'hot' about midfield, and the aircraft left skid marks on the runway that measured between 330 to 350 feet long. The aircraft departed the end of the runway, and went down an embankment and into trees. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-31 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 1996 | Piper PA-31 | Janesville, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1996 | Piper PA-31-350 | Zionsville, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1996 | Piper PA-31-310 | Wassau Island, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1996 | Piper PA-31-350 | Eel River Cross, Canada | JPS Corp | Fatal | 8 |
| 13 Nov 1996 | Piper PA-31-310 | Nairobi, Kenya | Kissimayu Aviation | Fatal | 8 |
| 5 Dec 1996 | Piper PA-31 | Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1996 | Maule M-6-235 | Bishop, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1996 | Cessna 210A | Truckee, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1996 | Cessna 152 | Santa Paula, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 1996 | Piper PA-28-140 | Plymouth, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1996 | Cessna T210M | Grass Valley, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 1996 | Cessna 172L | Napa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |