Ryan ST3KR accident near Santa Paula, California, July 5, 1996
On July 5, 1996 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Ryan ST3KR, registered N57017, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering toward the runway following the power loss.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1996 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST3KR
- Registration
- N57017 · no longer on the register · serial 2106
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported that as the 1942 vintage airplane approached runway 22 for landing its engine made unusual sputtering sounds. The airplane passed between 300 and 500 feet over the approach end of the runway while in a left descending turn. The bank angle increased, and the airplane spun into the ground about 150 yards from the runway. Three months earlier, restoration work had been completed which included replacing parts, recovering the airframe, and installation of an overhauled engine. By the accident date, the pilot/owner had flown the airplane for a total of 5.0 hours. The entire airplane was located at the crash site, and no evidence of preimpact airframe system failures was observed. Fuel was observed dripping out of the front end of the fuselage. Examination of the impact damaged airframe, engine and accessories including the carburetor, magnetos, propeller, oil and fuel screens, did not reveal evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions.
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: 709 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 677 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,618 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1996; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-540-1M-R55 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAL Riverside CA at 2:20 pm
- Destination: SZP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,650 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.