Piper PA 28-180 accident near Susanville, California, August 26, 2015
On August 26, 2015 at about 10:05 pm local time, a 1975 Piper PA 28-180, registered N1417X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Susanville, California (Susanville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 airspeed control during the landing in gusty wind conditions, resulting in an abnormal runway contact, and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2015 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Susanville, California · Susanville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-180 180, built 1975 · all PA 28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N1417X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7505226
- 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 while en route to his destination, the wind at the destination airport was reported as 180 degrees magnetic, at 19 to 22 knots, gusting 25 to 28 knots. The pilot reported that he added 5 knots to the "normal speed" of 70 knots for approach to "help compensate" for the gusts. About 20 feet above the ground, the airspeed "suddenly dropped" to 60 knots, the pilot added full power in an attempt to go-around, the left wing "abruptly lifted", and according to the pilot, "all remaining altitude was quickly lost". The airplane's right wing impacted the ground and the airplane cart-wheeled. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 774 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 858 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 31, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,599.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2015; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 2,673 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BYI Burley ID at 7:05 pm
- Destination: SVE Susanville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,180 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KRTS, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 29, 2015. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | 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.