Beech 58 accident near Kneeland, California, September 13, 2003
On September 13, 2003 at about 8:53 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N258SJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kneeland, California (Kneeland Airport). It was a business 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
poor braking action due to the undulating runway surface and crumbling asphalt resulting in an on ground encounter with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the necessity for the pilot to fly an increased approach angle due to the trees at the approach end, a displaced threshold, short runway length, and descending embankment in proximity to the runway surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2003 · about 8:53 pm local time
- Place
- Kneeland, California · Kneeland Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N258SJ · no longer on the register · serial TH-1258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
All of the landing gear collapsed after the pilot experienced poor braking action and intentionally maneuvered the airplane off the left side of the runway. During the landing roll on runway 33, the pilot experienced poor braking action due to a deteriorated runway surface. About 200 feet from the end of the runway he intentionally initiated a left turn in an attempt to keep from going off the end of the runway and down a 500-foot embankment. The airplane departed the left side of the runway surface onto a dirt area adjacent to the displaced threshold. The airplane went down a descending embankment and all three landing gear collapsed as the airplane continued the left turn. The airplane came to rest with the right wing on a berm. There was an undulating surface on the northwest end of runway 15/33. Runway 33 has a steep approach angle due to trees on the approach path to the 40-foot displaced threshold. Runway 33 is 2,270 feet in length and has a 0.05 percent up runway gradient. The runway asphalt surface is oxidized and deteriorating with fractured surface areas and open seams. The wind was 5 knots and variable out of the west. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with any system during the event.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,900 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 3, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACV Eureka-Arcata CA
- Destination: O19 Kneeland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,270 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from ACV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.