Beech A60 accident near Gualala, California, May 15, 2004
On May 15, 2004 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech A60, registered N931RP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gualala, California (Ocean Ridge 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning which resulted in a downwind landing. The tailwind was a contributing factor and an overrun of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2004 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gualala, California · Ocean Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A60 · all A60s on the register
- Registration
- N931RP · no longer on the register · serial P169
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane overran the runway and collapsed the landing gear during the landing roll. The pilot reported landing a "bit too fast" with a tailwind. The airport manager reported observed tire skid marks from the displaced threshold down the entire length of the 2,500-foot runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway and came to rest down an embankment. The closest weather reporting facility (located 24 miles northeast of the accident site) depicted gusty winds out of the northwest. The pilot was landing to the southeast.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,978 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,584 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 17, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,628 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2003; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,775 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Q69 Gualala CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from UKI, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX04CA212.