Piper PA-31-350 accident near Kneeland, California, July 24, 1996
On July 24, 1996 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N48DH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kneeland, California (Kneeland airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed, during the landing, and his failure to execute a go-around, when a proper touchdown point was not attained.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1996 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kneeland, California · Kneeland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N48DH · registry record · serial 31-7852043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot diverted to the planned alternate airport due to fog. The alternate airport was located on top of a ridge line about 2,700 feet higher than the planned destination airport. The runway was 2,200 feet long and had no services. According to witnesses, the pilot landed 'hot' about midfield, and the aircraft left skid marks on the runway that measured between 330 to 350 feet long. The aircraft departed the end of the runway, and went down an embankment and into trees. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,724 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHR Sacramento CA at 2:10 pm
- Destination: ACV Arcata CA
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 33, 2,270 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ACV, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.