Piper Seneca accident near Van Nuys, California, January 9, 2006
On January 9, 2006 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper Seneca, registered N4495T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Also causal was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 2006 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper Seneca
- Registration
- N4495T · no longer on the register · serial 34-7250114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touchdown the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign and a hangar. Both the instructor and the pilot manipulating the controls reported that they had just performed a simulated right engine out approach and landing. The pilot noted a left crosswind condition during the landing and the instructor said that both throttles were reduced to idle for touchdown. After touchdown, the pilots stated that the left wing rose up causing the right wing to strike the runway. The airplane veered off the runway and became airborne. The instructor said that the airplane was in a nose high steep right bank configuration and that the pilot was not able to regain control of the airplane. The instructor physically verified that the throttles were at idle and lowered the nose. The airplane contacted the taxiway again, striking a taxiway sign, and started to slide in a sideways motion. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid into a hangar. Both pilots stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 710 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,750 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 1,680 as pilot in command; 1,240 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,599 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 2005; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-360-CIE6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LIO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hollywood Aviators Inc
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34R, 4,011 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.