Amateur-built Q-2 accident near Compton, California, January 21, 2000
On January 21, 2000 at about 11:05 pm local time, a amateur-built Q-2, registered N813S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Compton, California (Compton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2000 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Compton, California · Compton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q-2
- Registration
- N813S · no longer on the register · serial 2097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to relocate the airplane to another airport. During the run-up, no discrepancies were noted with the airframe or engine. The pilot indicated that rotation speed was 80-85 mph, with a stall speed of 68 mph. On the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne at 70 mph with no manual inputs from the pilot. He attempted to land the airplane to avoid a stall. The left wing contacted the runway and the airplane veered to the left. He reduced power and applied the brakes increasing the direction of travel to the left. The pilot observed a vehicle coming in his direction on the taxiway, as well as a parked vehicle on the taxiway. As he maneuvered to avoid the moving and parked vehicles, the left canard struck and was sheared off by the parked vehicle. The pilot was not able to control the airplane and it slid into a parked car and came to rest near a hangar. A witness stated that there were no discrepancies noted with the sound of the engine during the takeoff roll. He observed the airplane either liftoff, or hop up into the air, and then the left wing struck the runway. The airplane was inspected on scene with no discrepancies noted with airframe or braking system.
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: commercial pilot, foreign licence, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 808 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 568 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 1999; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPM at 10:00 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 3,670 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from HHR, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N813S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.