Ryan ST3KR accident near Georgetown, California, October 21, 2000
On October 21, 2000 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Ryan ST3KR, registered N50870, was destroyed in an accident near Georgetown, California (Georgetown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's encounter with a strong updraft at the end of the runway that induced an increase in the wing's angle of attack to the critical point, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2000 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, California · Georgetown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST3KR
- Registration
- N50870 · no longer on the register · serial 1042
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that on initial climb after takeoff the airplane remained in ground effect until reaching the end of the runway. Thereafter, the airplane stalled and spun after encountering a strong updraft. It impacted a steep, wooded hillside area. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,507 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 26 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-55 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q61 at 10:44 pm
- Destination: O70 Jackson CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from AUN, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.