Martin STODDARD HAMILTON II accident near Georgetown, California, November 21, 1998
On November 21, 1998 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Martin STODDARD HAMILTON II, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N658PM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, California (Georgetown 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 pilot's improper flare. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1998 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, California · Georgetown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Martin STODDARD HAMILTON II STODDARD H, amateur-built
- Registration
- N658PM · no longer on the register · serial 658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot/owner needed 1.7 hours to meet requirements for insurance coverage and was seeking a tail wheel endorsement. He and his instructor departed Sacramento en route to Auburn, and after conducting landing practice at Auburn, they headed for Georgetown. This was the pilot's first visit to the Georgetown airport. The first approach was high and a go-around was executed. On the second approach the aircraft ballooned during the flare and settled to a hard landing. A go-around was initiated but the aircraft departed the runway. After the main landing gear contacted a dense stand of scotch broom vegetation, the airplane came to rest. The pilot and instructor felt a dip in the runway was a factor in the landing 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 22,000 as pilot in command; 15,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1998; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O 360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA
- Destination: Q61
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,980 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.