Amateur-built GC-1A accident near Rancho Murieta, California, February 12, 2006
On February 12, 2006 at about 11:29 pm local time, a amateur-built GC-1A, registered N80715, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rancho Murieta, California (Rancho Murieta airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2006 · about 11:29 pm local time · cases in 2006
- Place
- Rancho Murieta, California · Rancho Murieta · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GC-1A
- Registration
- N80715 · no longer on the register · serial 118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing rollout on runway 22, the airplane veered off the runway to the right, encountered soft soil, and nosed over. The pilot thought that the right brake dragged, and then locked up after touchdown. The airplane veered to the right and nosed over in soft dirt after leaving the runway. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane and found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or lockup with the brake system.
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; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,404 hours in all; 817 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,045 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,970 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WLW Willows CA at 10:20 pm
- Destination: RIU Rancho Murieta CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from MHR, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N80715 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N80715: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D 1,057 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Rancho Murieta Airport · nearest airport
- Willows/Glenn County · departed from
- Rancho Murieta Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N80715 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX06LA112.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.