Aviat Aircraft INC A-1A accident near Taft, California, September 22, 2024
On September 22, 2024, a 1998 Aviat Aircraft INC A-1A, registered N56TA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Taft, California (Pvt 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 pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2024
- Place
- Taft, California · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1A, built 1998 · all A-1As on the register
- Registration
- N56TA · registry record · serial 1420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight, the flight instructor and pilot undergoing instruction (student) performed multiple landings at an airport without incident before heading to the student’s private dirt airstrip. Upon arriving at the airstrip, the instructor demonstrated one landing. The student performed the second landing, and during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the right. Both the student and flight instructor applied the left rudder and brake in an attempt to correct back to the airstrip; however, the airplane continued to veer off the right side of the airstrip, where it struck a dirt mound and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage and tail sections. A postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Both pilots reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,809 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 9.1 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 31, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 2,826 hours in all; 21.2 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 2,735 as pilot in command; 2,150 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 803.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,890 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 827 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIT Shafter CA
- Destination: Taft CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from KBFL, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBFL 220054Z 30009KT 10SM CLR 32/11 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP088 T03220111=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.