Nut Tree Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Vacaville, California 95687
Sunday, August 18, 1996 18:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the touchdown and initial landing rollout were normal. As the aircraft slowed to 20 mph the aircraft started an arc to the right. The pilot stated that full left rudder and brake 'made the arc tighten to the right...(and)...I released the left brake and applied a little right brake.' The arc began to lessen, but not enough to prevent the aircraft from leaving the runway and heading for a drainage culvert. The pilot was concerned about the aircraft striking the culvert and nosing over onto its back so he intentionally 'stepped hard on the right rudder and brake to purposely ground loop.' During the ground loop, the aircraft wing struck a concrete barrier above the drainage culvert. The aircraft was examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector who reported that he did not observe any damage or defect of the landing gear or brakes not related to the impact sequence.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/18/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1850
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VACAVILLE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95687
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NUT TREE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O45
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 114
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 819
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 21 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 952
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N57011
NTSB Number LAX96LA312
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ryan
Aircraft Model ST3KR
Aircraft Series Identifier ST3KR
Aircraft Serial Number 1794
Certified Max Gross Weight 1850
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 2529
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY W. NIVA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 17200 RAMSEY ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WHITE CITY
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97503
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 16090 VIEWFIELD ROAD
Operator City MONTE SERENO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95030
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RBL
Departure City RED BLUFF
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code O45
Destination City
Destination State
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 20
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --