Pm Dusters Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nelson, California 95958
Monday, May 31, 2010 16:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to gain additional flight time towards his commercial pilot certificate; at the time of the accident he had about 50 hours total flight time. The pilot and passengers had no recollection of the circumstances surrounding the accident due to the serious injuries they sustained. The airplane came to rest inverted and semi-submerged in a wet field about five miles from the airplaneā€™s home base. Fuselage crush signatures, damage to the airplane's left wing, and twisting deformation to the tail section were consistent with terrain impact following an aerodynamic stall/spin event. A postimpact examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of aircraft control during an undetermined phase of flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Nelson
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95958
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393302n
Event Location Longitude 1215326w
Event Location Airport PM Dusters Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 132
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID OVE
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27617
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2010 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record kelz
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7013K
NTSB Number WPR10LA268
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-20
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20-119
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 19 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 3356
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name PORTER THOMAS E
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City FORT BRAGG
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95437
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Christopher Jacob Garrity
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Chico
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95965-8373
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 PVT
Departure City Chico
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Chico
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2010 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --