Amateur-built RUTAN LONG-EZE accident near Friendswood, Texas, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 7:15 pm local time, a amateur-built RUTAN LONG-EZE, registered N331LB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1988 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Friendswood, Texas · Friendswood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RUTAN LONG-EZE RUTAN LONG
- Registration
- N331LB · registry record · serial 1151
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OVERROTATED THE AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF TO A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN OVERCONTROLLED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO GET THE NOSE DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN NOSE GEAR FIRST AND ALL THREE LANDING GEARS COLLAPSED, A WING SHEARED OFF, AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER INVERTED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,170 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 27,170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 1, 1988; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TO2 Friendswood TX at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,322 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.