Piper PA-28-151 accident near Sonoma, California, May 30, 1994
On May 30, 1994 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N44630, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sonoma, California (Sonoma Skypark airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1994 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sonoma, California · Sonoma Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N44630 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415688
- 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 HE EXPERIENCED TURBULENCE. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN LONG, AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INITIALLY ATTEMPTED TO GO-AROUND. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT DURING ROLLOUT HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE RUNWAY IS 2,340 FEET LONG AND ITS THRESHOLD IS DISPLACED BY 237 FEET. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT HIS RECENT FLYING EXPERIENCE OR CURRENCY. ON A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE APPLICATION 8 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD 100 HOURS OF FLYING EXPERIENCE.
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
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tradewind Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 048 Little River CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,340 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.