Boeing A75N1(PT17) accident near Palm Springs, California, October 12, 2010
On October 12, 2010 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1(PT17), registered N66940, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm Springs, California (Palm Springs In'T Airport). It was a personal 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2010 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Palm Springs, California · Palm Springs In'T Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1(PT17) · all A75N1(PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N66940 · registry record · serial 75-4716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during landing, the airplane encountered a crosswind. The left wingtip touched the runway and the airplane ground looped. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the left aileron and a wing rib. Approximately 15 minutes after the accident, the wind was reported from 130 degrees at 4 knots.
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
- 552230 during descent - emergency
- 552470 during descent - emergency
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,000 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, June 20, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,700 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 31R, 4,952 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°C, dew point 41°C
- Altimeter: 29.870001 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR11CA014.