Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C accident near Placerville, California, October 24, 2016
On October 24, 2016 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2010 Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C, registered N331MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Placerville, California (Placerville airport). It was an instructional 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 directional control of the airplane during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2016 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Placerville, California · Placerville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C 180, built 2010 · all A-1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N331MA · no longer on the register · serial 3089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tailwheel endorsed pilot who was receiving additional instruction from an appropriately rated flight instructor acting as a safety pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported, that during the landing roll before the tail settled to the runway, a gust of wind "pushed" the airplane to the right edge of the runway. He further reported that he attempted to abort the landing to avoid parked aircraft. Subsequently, the airplane impacted an airport perimeter fence during the aborted landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the right aileron and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the local weather on the airfield, about the time of the accident, recorded the wind from 180 degrees true, at 12 nautical miles per hour (knots), with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot landed runway 23.
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 on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 269 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 144 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,515 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1,455 as pilot in command; 1,135 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 18, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 280 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 8, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 280 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: PVF Placerville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,910 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from KPVF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 16, 2016. 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 | 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.