# NTSB WPR24LA111: Piper Aerostar 601P, N1SS, Grass Valley, CA, March 14, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 14, 2024, 11:48 local (18:48 UTC)
- Place: Grass Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 39.222988, -121.00515 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2230&lon=-121.0052&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193937/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193937
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA111

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control in a gusting wind condition.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7106012), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1SS-2024-06-12), registration cancelled 2024-06-12, S/N 61P06947963331, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER AEROSTAR 601P
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601p) (registry code 7106012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P06947963331
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 2730.9
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5MM 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540-S1A5MM 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2024, 2.1 hours before
- Departed: KMBC, Brigham City, UT
- Destination: KGOO, Grass Valley, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GOO, Nevada County Airport, runway 07, 4,657 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22,323 total, 104 in this make and model, 19,500 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 17 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KGOO
- METAR: KGOO 141855Z AUTO 08017G29KT 10SM CLR A3008 RMK A01

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240314002179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240314002179A), Mar 14, 2024: Piper AEROSTAR 601P, Grass Valley, CA, Substantial damage. AWOS reported 4 knots of wind, at time of arrival AWOS reported 15 knots gusting to 25 knots right down runway 7. Moderate turbulence was encountered during…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193937. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17716792&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N1SS%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17717813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photograph%20N1SS-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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