Pine Mountain Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Groveland, California 95321
Monday, March 12, 2007 10:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane landed long, veered off the runway, and collided with trees. The pilot flew over the airport and observed the windsock, which looked limp. He entered right traffic for runway 27 and noted the surrounding mountainous terrain. He did two rejected landings, and on the third attempt, he realized he was still high but felt that he could land in the first third of the runway. The airplane floated, and touched down in the last third of the runway. The airplane veered left off the runway, crossed a ditch, went down an embankment, and collided with trees. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Groveland
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95321
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375142N
Event Location Longitude 1201040W
Event Location Airport Pine Mountain Lake
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E45
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 2930
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID MOD
Elevation of weather observation facility 97
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21482
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2007 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration Fresno FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2489P
NTSB Number LAX07CA105
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A1003
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael L. Trettin
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Stockton
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95249
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name The Flight Center at Stockton
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Stockton
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95206
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 SCK
Departure City Stockton
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code E45
Destination City Groveland
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2007 12:01PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3625
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --