Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C accident near Mcarthur, California, September 18, 2009
On September 18, 2009 at about 2:00 am local time, a Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C, registered N82PL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mcarthur, California (Oilar Private Airstrip 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 failure to maintain aircraft control during landing due to animals unexpectedly running onto the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2009 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Mcarthur, California · Oilar Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C · all A-1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N82PL · registry record · serial 3047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who was located in the front seat of the tail wheel equipped airplane, had just completed two uneventful full stop landings at the private grass airstrip. The pilot in the rear seat then took the controls, and departed with the intention of performing a full stop landing. The rear seated pilot stated that during the landing, cattle ran from behind a line of trees, and onto the runway. He did not have enough separation from the cattle to perform a go-around, so he aggressively applied the brakes. The airplane subsequently nosed over causing substantial damage to the wings.
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
What happened, in order
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,160 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 28, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Mcarthur CA
- Destination: PVT Mcarthur CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,100 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from AAT, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.