Amateur-built ALB Special accident near Santa Rosa, California, April 14, 2001
On April 14, 2001 at about 6:14 pm local time, a amateur-built ALB Special, registered N117V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Rosa, California (Sonoma County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2001 · about 6:14 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Rosa, California · Sonoma County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ALB Special
- Registration
- N117V · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he lost directional control of the amateur built aircraft during landing. The airplane veered to the left and then to the right before ground looping and nosing over. He reported there were no mechanical malfunctions.
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: 685 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 10, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 67 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 2001; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru 2.2L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,115 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from STS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N117V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.