Air Creation CLIPPER 582S accident near Petaluma, California, August 14, 2010
On August 14, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, registered N468DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Petaluma, California (Petaluma Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper flare, resulting in a hard landing and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Petaluma, California · Petaluma Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Creation CLIPPER 582S
- Registration
- N468DW · no longer on the register · serial T99075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While about 10 feet above ground level when landing to a private airstrip, the airplane suddenly descended and landed hard on all three landing gear. When it bounced back into the air, the airplane veered to the left. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 380 hours in all; 375 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 31, 2009
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 545 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 2010; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 877 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O69 Petaluma CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Petaluma CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from APC, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 27, 2010. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N468DW: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Air Creation 114 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rotax 582S 1,193 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Petaluma Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,069 since 1982 · 1,087 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR10CA403.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.