Piper AEROSTAR 601P accident near Grass Valley, California, March 14, 2024
On March 14, 2024 at about 6:48 pm local time, a 1979 Piper AEROSTAR 601P, registered N1SS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Grass Valley, California (Nevada County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control in a gusting wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2024 · about 6:48 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper AEROSTAR 601P, built 1979 · all AEROSTAR 601Ps on the register
- Registration
- N1SS · no longer on the register · serial 61P06947963331
- 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 the AWOS weather reported strong gusts of 15 up to 25 kts straight down the runway. At approximately 20 ft agl, he experienced moderate turbulence and elected to abort the landing and attempted to climb. However, as the airspeed was decreasing the airplane was not gaining altitude. The pilot experienced another strong wind gust which put the airplane into a nose down and right wing low attitude, which he was unable to control and collided with the runway substantially damaging the right wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,323 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 19,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,730.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 2024; 2.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,315 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5MM (piston); 2,733 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5MM (piston); 2,733 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMBC Brigham City UT at 4:45 pm
- Destination: KGOO Grass Valley CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 07, 4,657 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 17 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KGOO
Weather report (METAR): KGOO 141855Z AUTO 08017G29KT 10SM CLR A3008 RMK A01
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 WPR24LA111.