Piper PA-36-375 and amateur-built AA-5B mid-air collision near Herald, California, April 5, 2003
On April 5, 2003 at about 6:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-36-375 (N3859E) and amateur-built AA-5B (N28821), were involved in a mid-air collision near Herald, California (Bottimore Ranch Airport). 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 inadequate visual lookout for other aircraft by both pilots that resulted in a midair collision.
the inadequate visual lookout for other aircraft by both pilots that resulted in a midair collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2003 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Herald, California · Bottimore Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-36-375 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N3859E · no longer on the register · serial 36-7802028
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N28821 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B0840
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-36-375 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Piper PA-36-375 was attempting to land and he collided with a Grumman AA-5B, which had just touched down on the same runway. When the pilot of the Piper heard the collision, he noticed the wings of the Grumman below his airplane. He then executed a go-around, and diverted to another airport. The pilot of the Piper reported only minor damage to his airplane's propeller. The pilot of the Grumman reported damage to his fuselage, empennage, and wing structures. There was no Unicom installed or in use at the airstrip. Both pilots reported that they were not transmitting on any aircraft radio frequencies prior to the accident.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built AA-5B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Piper PA-36-375 was attempting to land and he collided with a Grumman AA-5B, which had just touched down on the same runway. When the pilot of the Piper heard the collision, he noticed the wings of the Grumman below his airplane. He then executed a go-around, and diverted to another airport. The pilot of the Piper reported only minor damage to his airplane's propeller. The pilot of the Grumman reported damage to his fuselage, empennage, and wing structures. There was no Unicom installed or in use at the airstrip. Both pilots reported that they were not transmitting on any aircraft radio frequencies prior to the accident.
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 for the Piper PA-36-375 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 4,800 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 16,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,934 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 7, 2003; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: H & R Aerial Enterprises INC
The flight
- Departed from: 65CN Herald CA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: 65CN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,900 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from KMHR, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built AA-5B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 79 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,862.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2002; 33.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O20 Lodi CA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: 65CN Herald CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 270, 2,900 ft by 25 ft
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 N3859E 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.