Orchard Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Avenal, California 93204
Saturday, April 6, 1991 11:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS LANDING AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WITH 4 PASSENGERS ON A FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135. THE AIRSTRIP IS 3,000 FEET LONG AND 20 FEET WIDE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A DIRT BERM THAT WAS DEPOSITED ON THE RUNWAY BY RECENT DUST STORMS. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE HARD SURFACE OF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT GEAR STRUCK SOFT TERRAIN AND WAS SHEARED OFF FROM THE AIRFRAME. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR PASSENGERS. THE LANDING GEAR WIDTH OF THE AIRPLANE IS 18 FEET.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER STRIKING A DIRT BERM DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRPORT WAS ADEQUATE FOR HIS INTENDED OPERATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/6/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City AVENAL
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93204
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ORCHARD RANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 697
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 215
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43298
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N242AR
NTSB Number LAX91LA167
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 414A
Aircraft Series Identifier 414A
Aircraft Serial Number 414A0472
Certified Max Gross Weight 7087
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALFRED WILLSEY JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3532
Aircraft Owner City SAN FRANSCISCO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94119
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR ALLANA INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 351 AIRPORT RD.
Operator City NOVATO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94946
Operator Code IHTA
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 Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SQL
Departure City SAN CARLOS
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 20
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --