Amateur-built DH-82A accident near Petaluma, California, August 24, 1990
On August 24, 1990 at about 9:01 pm local time, a amateur-built DH-82A, registered N82KF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petaluma, California (Petaluma airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1990 · about 9:01 pm local time
- Place
- Petaluma, California · Petaluma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DH-82A
- Registration
- N82KF · registry record · serial 90681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH, THE CROSSWIND WAS ABT 10 - 15 DEG OFF THE NOSE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN WHEELS, BUT WHEN THE TAILWHEEL BEGAN TO SETTLE AT ABT MIDFIELD, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECT CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE ENTERED INTO SOFT DIRT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAT NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. GND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT THE APPROACH END WERE LIGHT & VARIABLE, BUT AT MIDFIELD THE WINDS WERE EXTREMELY VARIABLE AND GUSTY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,264 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,017 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: De Havilland 1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 069 at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 069
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.