# NTSB WPR26LA148: Quicksilver GT-400, N120LF, Chula Vista, CA, March 23, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 23, 2026, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Chula Vista, CA - Coordinates: 32.633372, -116.89031 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6334&lon=-116.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - San Diego FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202775 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202775/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202775 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA148 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and a subsequent runway excursion. ## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver GT-400, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901P8), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Quicksilver GT-400, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05901P8), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver GT-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05901P8), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver GT-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05901P8), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Quicksilver GT-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05901P8), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on a local flight in the airport traffic pattern in an airplane he had recently purchased. During a landing attempt the airplane landed hard and bounced at which time the pilot applied full power to perform a go-around. He then elected to abort the go-around and land after he determined the airplane would not clear trees at the end of the runway. The airplane overran the runway end and impacted brush, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that he later learned he did not have sufficient flaps extended for the landing configuration. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N120LF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N120LF), registered now, S/N 1042, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER GT-400 - Registry model: [Quicksilver GT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-gt-400) (registry code 05901P8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1042 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 857.2 - Engines: Rotax 503 SCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frehafer Glenn A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 28, 2026, 4 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 0CL3, John Nichol'S Fld, runway 25, 2,036 × 30 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review December 18, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 198.5 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KSDM, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KSDM 232153Z VRB06KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP122 T02280139= ## 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 20260323004849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260323004849A), Mar 23, 2026: Quicksilver GT-400, Jamul, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he had recently aquired the aircraft and after several fast taxis to get the feel of the aircraft, he took off and climbed to 1000 ft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202775. 9.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20214401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1-Signed-Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20213563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=26LA148-Accident-Photos-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20221125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC-Pilot-WPR26LA148_Redacted-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.