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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2024 · about 6:48 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada County Airport · cases near this 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 24, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | 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
- N1SS: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper AEROSTAR 601 117 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5MM 4,222 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5MM 4,222 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Nevada County · nearest airport
- Nevada County · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR24LA111.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.