Piper PA-18-150 accident near Fall River Mill, California, September 23, 2005
On September 23, 2005 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N5756Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fall River Mill, California (Fall River Mills airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain runway alignment during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2005 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fall River Mill, California · Fall River Mills · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5756Y · registry record · serial 18-8325
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost directional control during the landing flare, and the airplane impacted flat level terrain east of the runway. Upon arrival to the airport he entered the pattern for runway 2. He said he encountered an "extreme" left crosswind condition and the airplane was blown off the runway. There was no weather reporting station at the airport; however, the closest facility was reporting winds from 350 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot said the winds were from 340 degrees at 25 knots.
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: 222 hours in all; 148 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 222 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,439.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2005; 21.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: O89 Fall River Mill CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:13 pm from AAT, 48 miles away
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.