Piper PA-28-140 accident near Santa Rosa, California, October 4, 1991
On October 4, 1991, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N55394, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Rosa, California (Santa Rosa airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING A RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1991
- Place
- Santa Rosa, California · Santa Rosa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N55394 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325392
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING A SERIES OF TOUCH AND GO OPERATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON TOUCHDOWN AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BEGIN A LOW LEVEL LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 20 FEET AGL AND IT COLLIDED WITH TWO LIGHT POLES ABOUT 150 YARDS FROM THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE EXTENSIVELY BURNED AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE. THEY REPORTED THAT THE CONTROL CABLES WERE PROPERLY ROUTED WITHIN THE STRUCTURE AND THAT THE FLAP ACTUATORS WERE FOUND IN THE UP POSITION. NO AIRCRAFT OR SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION.
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: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 7,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 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.
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.