Siai Marchetti S211 accident near Borrego Valley, California, October 24, 2014
On October 24, 2014 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Siai Marchetti S211, registered N211JY, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Borrego Valley, California (Borrego Valley 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 private pilot's premature landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2014 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Borrego Valley, California · Borrego Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai Marchetti S211 A
- Registration
- N211JY · no longer on the register · serial 013/02-010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to receive instruction from the rear-seated flight instructor (CFI). Following departure, they flew to a nearby airport with the intent of performing touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. As the airplane approached the touchdown zone, the private pilot prematurely flared. The CFI assumed control of the airplane and decreased the pitch attitude while simultaneously applying engine power. Despite his attempts, the airplane contacted the runway hard in a nose-high attitude. The CFI opted to abort the landing and climbed to traffic pattern altitude to verify proper control input. He landed on the same runway without incident. In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilots stated that the accident could have been prevented if they had flared closer to the runway. During the impact sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. Both pilots reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,014 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 18,000 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,018 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 15, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 6,063 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney JT150-4C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Progenitech LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KRNM Ramona CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: L08 Borrego Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,011 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.