- Date
- October 21, 2000, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Georgetown, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N50870Ryan ST3KR
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20001021040419A
- Case key
- 50504
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The airplane's encounter with a strong updraft at the end of the runway that induced an increase in the wing's angle of attack to the critical point, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said that on initial climb after takeoff the airplane remained in ground effect until reaching the end of the runway. Thereafter, the airplane stalled and spun after encountering a strong updraft. It impacted a steep, wooded hillside area. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On October 21, 2000, about 1545 hours Pacific daylight time, a Ryan ST3KR, N50870, was destroyed when it collided with trees 1 minute after departing from the airport at Georgetown, California. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot sustained serious injuries and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, destined for Jackson, California, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot stated that on initial climb from runway 34, he remained in ground effect until the end of the runway. The airplane encountered a strong updraft at the end of the runway, stalled, and spun into the trees. The airplane impacted the ground in a steep, wooded area, and was destroyed. The pilot also stated that there were no mechanical irregularities.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N50870
- Reported as
- Ryan ST3KR
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1042
- Engine
- Kinner R-55, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jeffrey M. Skeen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Q61
- Destination
- O70 · Jackson, CA
- Airport
- Q61 · Georgetown, runway 34, 3,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,507 total · 66 in this make and model · 90 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUN, 12 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.