Ac Mfg & Dev'T Co CH 2000 accident near Madera, California, April 3, 2007
On April 3, 2007 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Ac Mfg & Dev'T Co CH 2000, registered N368AM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madera, California (Madera Muni Ap airport). It was an instructional 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 improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and porpoise.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2007 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Madera, California · Madera Muni Ap · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ac Mfg & Dev'T Co CH 2000
- Registration
- N368AM · registry record · serial 20-1062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot was landing and the airplane ballooned while on short final. The airplane touched down hard on the main gear and porpoised down the runway. During the accident sequence, the firewall was wrinkled. The student pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions occurred.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sierra Academy Of Aeronautics/Ks Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: MAE Madera CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,545 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from KFAT, 23 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.