Piper PA 28-161 accident near Auburn, California, June 21, 1991
On June 21, 1991 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Piper PA 28-161, registered N3573X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, California (Auburn airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S USE OF AN EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED FOR THE FINAL APPROACH, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INITIATE A GO AROUND WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD LAND LONG ON THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LIMITED TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1991 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, California · Auburn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-161 · all PA 28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N3573X · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT WAS ON HER THIRD SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHE STATED IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT THE APPROACH ANGLE DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT AT AUBURN SEEMED NORMAL, HOWEVER, HER SPEED WAS TOO HIGH. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN THE 3,100 FOOT LONG RUNWAY AND SHE SAID THAT JUST AFTER TOUCH DOWN SHE REALIZED THAT INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINED TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE APPLIED POWER TO ATTEMPT A GO AROUND, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT GET AIRBORNE AND IT COLLIDED WITH GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 069 Petaluma CA at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N3573X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.