Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Fort Bragg, California, September 17, 1994
On September 17, 1994 at about 1:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N30150, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Bragg, California (Fort Bragg Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to adequately anticipate and compensate for the existing crosswind/windshear conditions during the takeoff initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1994 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Fort Bragg, California · Fort Bragg Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N30150 · registry record · serial 28R-7837312
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED ABOUT 3/4 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED AT 80 KNOTS AS THE PILOT REACHED FOR THE LANDING GEAR LEVER. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING DROPPED TO A 10- DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK, FOLLOWED BY A 60-DEGREE RIGHT ROLL. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED AND COLLIDED WITH TREES IN A 30-DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN A CLEAR AREA SURROUNDED BY TALL TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING AN OFFSHORE BREEZE FROM HIS RIGHT ONCE THE AIRPLANE CLEARED THE TOPS OF THE TREES. ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT QUANTIFY THE WIND SPEED, HE DID STATE THAT THE WINDS ON THE AIRPORT SURFACE WERE CALM, WHILE THE LOW LEVEL CLOUDS WERE MOVING VERY FAST AT THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE TREE LINE.
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: 180 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 131 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,165 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 13, 1994; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-CIC6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sundance Flying Club
The flight
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,800 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:13 am from ACV, 95 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.