Piper PA30 - NO SERIES accident near Red Bluff, California, March 19, 2015
On March 19, 2015 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1967 Piper PA30 - NO SERIES, registered N8403Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Red Bluff, California (Red Bluff Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2015 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Red Bluff, California · Red Bluff Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA30 - NO SERIES NO SERIES, built 1967 · all PA30 - NO SERIESs on the register
- Registration
- N8403Y · registry record · serial 301552
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after the airplane touched down and he applied the brakes, the airplane swerved 90 degrees right. He then released the brakes and applied aileron and rudder inputs to correct to the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to regain directional control, the airplane continued to turn right, slid sideways off the runway, went over a berm, and then continued about 40 ft down a 45-degree embankment, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear and substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane's wheel and brake system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Wind was reported to be calm at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he did not hold a multiengine rating and that he had a total of 3 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
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
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 235 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 23, 1984
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 2014; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 4,400 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 3,685 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 025 Shelter Cove CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: RBL Red Bluff CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,431 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from RBL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.