Piper PA28-181 accident near Dorris, California, July 3, 2006
On July 3, 2006 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Piper PA28-181, registered N6413C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dorris, California (Butte Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in a stall/mush. A contributing factor was the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2006 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Dorris, California · Butte Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-181 · all PA28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N6413C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7890372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted the ground during an attempted go-around. Before the flight, the pilot performed weight and balance and density altitude calculations. After a 1-hour local flight, the pilot circled over the airport and determined the winds to be calm. He entered the traffic pattern for runway 34 and extended 40 degrees of flaps. The pilot noticed a slight crosswind from the west and applied crosswind correction. On short final, the airplane was aligned with the runway at an indicated airspeed of 65 knots. As the airplane crossed the approach end of the runway it rolled to the left and the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot initiated a go-around by applying full power and retracting the flaps to 25 degrees. The airplane continued to descend, so the pilot released right rudder pressure and leveled the wings in an attempt to climb; however, the airplane continued to descend on a heading of 310 degrees. About 10 feet above ground level, the pilot pulled back on the yoke in an effort to slow the airplane down. The plane touched down on the main landing gear in a field about 100 yards west of the runway. The left wing dug into the ground and the airplane spun 90 degrees to the left before coming to a stop. The calculated density altitude was 6,313 feet.
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: 69 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 32 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,132 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2006; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tradewinds Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: A32 Dorris CA
- Destination: A32 Dorris CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from LMT, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.