Piper PA-32-300 accident near Redding, California, March 8, 2025
On March 8, 2025 at about 3:02 am local time, a 1974 Piper PA-32-300, registered N32371, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Redding, California (Redding airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a stabilized approach and his delayed action to perform a go-around, resulting in a collision with the runway surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2025 · about 3:02 am local time
- Place
- Redding, California · Redding · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300, built 1974 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N32371 · no longer on the register · serial 32-7540035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane encountered low level wind shear as it passed through 500 ft above ground level (AGL). He said that during the initial approach, the airplane had a 20-knot headwind; however, near the ground, the wind shifted to a tailwind and the airplane subsequently nosedived. The nose wheel impacted the ground hard, and the propeller struck the ground. The pilot then attempted a go-around, but the engine did not respond and the second impact with the ground resulted in the nosewheel collapsing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Surface wind conditions at the accident airport were reported as calm immediately before and after the accident. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 612 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 485 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 2024; 157 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 KIAS (piston); 5,120 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSBA Santa Barbara CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 7:26 pm from KRDD
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRDD 080353Z 31006KT 10SM CLR 13/M04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP208 ACFT MSHP T01281039= SPECI KRDD 080326Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/M01 A3015 RMK AO2 ACFT MSHP T01331011= SPECI KRDD 080318Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/M03 A3014 RMK AO2 T01281033= METAR KRDD 080253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 14/M04 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP205 T01391039 53011=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident airplane after recovery
Photograph 2 – Accident airplane after recovery
Photograph 3 – View of damage to upper windshield areaThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 11, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.