Ryan ST3KR accident near Vacaville, California, August 19, 1996
On August 19, 1996 at about 1:50 am local time, a Ryan ST3KR, registered N57011, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vacaville, California (Nut Tree airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1996 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Vacaville, California · Nut Tree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST3KR
- Registration
- N57011 · no longer on the register · serial 1794
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the touchdown and initial landing rollout were normal. As the aircraft slowed to 20 mph the aircraft started an arc to the right. The pilot stated that full left rudder and brake 'made the arc tighten to the right...(and)...I released the left brake and applied a little right brake.' The arc began to lessen, but not enough to prevent the aircraft from leaving the runway and heading for a drainage culvert. The pilot was concerned about the aircraft striking the culvert and nosing over onto its back so he intentionally 'stepped hard on the right rudder and brake to purposely ground loop.' During the ground loop, the aircraft wing struck a concrete barrier above the drainage culvert. The aircraft was examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector who reported that he did not observe any damage or defect of the landing gear or brakes not related to the impact sequence.
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: 1,008 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,529 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1996; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-55 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA
- Destination: O45
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.