Piper PA-44-180T accident near Woodland, California, March 13, 1985
On March 13, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-44-180T, registered N8322T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodland, California (Yolo County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodland, California · Yolo County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180T · all PA-44-180Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8322T · no longer on the register · serial 44-8107033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS PREPARING HIS STUDENT FOR A MULTIENGINE, PRIVATE PLT, FLT TEST. THE PURPOSE OF THE LESSON WAS TO DEMONSTRATE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING FOLLOWING A SIMULATED LOSS OF POWER AFTER TAKEOFF. AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE CFI RETARDED THE LEFT ENG TO IDLE. HE THEN INITIATED A LANDING, STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE REMAINING RWY. HE REDUCED THE ANGLE-OF-ATTACK & EXTENDED FULL FLAPS. (THE GEAR HAD NOT BEEN RETRACTED, SO IT WAS ALREADY EXTENDED.) DURING THE LANDING, A HI RATE OF DESCENT DEVELOPED & WAS NOT ARRESTED BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT LANDED HARD & WAS DAMAGED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,294 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 1,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 786 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,925 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.