Piper PA-46-310P accident near Redlands, California, August 23, 1996
On August 23, 1996 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N9130N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands Municipal airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's improper weather evaluation. The uphill runway condition and weather associated with thunderstorm(s) were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1996 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9130N · no longer on the register · serial 4608075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed runway 08 during local thunderstorm activity. The runway had an uphill gradient of 2.2 percent. The pilot reported the winds were from the southeast at 10 to 15 knots. He said that during takeoff, he raised the gear at approximately 50 feet agl and retracted the flaps. Except for light turbulence, the takeoff was uneventful until the airplane reached an altitude of about 75 to a 100 feet agl. At about that time, the airplane started descending. The pilot applied full power and increased the pitch attitude, but was unable to arrest the descent. When the pilot realized the airplane was going to contact the ground, he extended the landing gear. Before the landing gear was fully extended, the propeller struck the runway. The pilot noted a resultant vibration and elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane then traveled beyond the departure end of the runway and encountered rocky terrain.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,780 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,780 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1996; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L12 CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,505 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:58 pm from RIV, 16 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N9130N 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.