Amateur-built TIERRA II accident near Rio Linda, California, March 7, 1993
On March 7, 1993 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built TIERRA II (ultralight), registered N4474E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Linda, California. It was a personal 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 FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1993 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Linda, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIERRA II
- Registration
- N4474E · no longer on the register · serial 4356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING A GRASS FIELD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES AS IT CONTINUED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.