- Date
- March 31, 1990, 10:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- Glamis, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N542AAFreeman H Easton Falcon XP
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 21, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900331006889A
- Case key
- 26550
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 pilots loss of control while attempting to return to the airstrip after experiencing a partial loss of engine power.
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 86 year old pilot of a homebuilt experienced a partial engine failure and crashed into a tree while attempting to return to the airstrip. The pilot did not use the shoulder harness and was fatally injured. Witnesses heard the engine sputtering and saw the wings wobble back and fourth prior to the crash. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical problems. The engine fuel pump, fuel lines, fuel tank and carburetor were destroyed by fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N542AA
- Reported as
- Freeman H Easton Falcon XP
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 600163
- Airframe hours
- 70
- Engine
- Bombardier ROTAX, 52 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Freeman & Ora Easton
- Registered owner
- Freeman H Easton/Ora F Easton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 27, 1990 · 4 hours before
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
- 86
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 70 in this make and model · 460 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.