Kneeland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kneeland, California 95501
Wednesday, July 24, 1996 8:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City KNEELAND
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95501
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KNEELAND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 019
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2737
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 950 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID ACV
Elevation of weather observation facility 218
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 1000
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1428
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 855
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48DH
NTSB Number LAX96LA289
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR/IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7852043
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 5724
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALCOHOL AVIATION FUELS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 400 FAIRVIEW 12
Aircraft Owner City INCLINE VILLAGE
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89451
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name UNION FLIGHTS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6273 FREEPORT BLVD.
Operator City SACRAMENTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95822
Operator Code UN1A
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MHR
Departure City SACRAMENTO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 710
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ACV
Destination City ARCATA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 2270
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --