Piper PA-28 accident near Woodland, California, September 25, 1994
On September 25, 1994 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N4813T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodland, California (Yolo County Airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed during a short field approach and the inadvertent entry into a stall/mush condition. In addition, the instructor failed to take proper remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1994 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodland, California · Yolo County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N4813T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A FULL FLAP, SHORT FIELD APPROACH. THE APPROACH PROCEEDED AS PLANNED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 40 FEET AGL AND 200 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. AT THIS POINT, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A 'THERMAL' AND THE DESCENT RATE SUDDENLY INCREASED. HE ADDED POWER BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SINK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ONBOARD REPORTED THEIR AIRSPEED BECAME 'TOO SLOW' AND THEY 'LOST LIFT.' THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ABOUT 20 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND STRUCK A BERM. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE CALM DURING THE APPROACH.
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: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,684 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,254 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O45 Vacaville CA at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from SAC, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N4813T 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.