Piper PA-30 accident near Davis, California, August 4, 2000
On August 4, 2000 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N300RE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davis, California (Yolo County 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 dual student's improper response to a simulated engine failure and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2000 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Davis, California · Yolo County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N300RE · registry record · serial 30-841
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it veered off the runway and collided with a runway light during a simulated engine failure in the takeoff ground roll . The certified flight instructor (CFI) explained to his student that he would be simulating an engine failure on the takeoff roll and proceeded to retard the right throttle. The CFI waited for his student to apply the proper correction procedures; however, the airplane continued to drift to the right side of the runway. The CFI pulled both throttles but realized at that point that he did not have any brakes on his side of the airplane. He increased the throttles and the airplane "violently swerved and rolled" to the left as it became airborne. As the airplane drifted down the runway in ground effect, the CFI regained control and continued the departure. The CFI and student made another practice stop-and-go landing. During the taxi back, they noticed the left wing tip was missing and returned to their home base.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,434 hours in all; 307 in the last 90 days; 126 in the last 30 days
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,151 hours in all; 19 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8Q0 Fairfield CA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 2Q3
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from SMF, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.